#Tourism - The new heritage trail on the Loop Head Peninsula in Co Clare has been named winner of the ‘Culture and Heritage’ category of one of the world’s foremost tourism and travel award schemes.
The Loop Head Heritage Trail received its award today (Wednesday, 4 November) at the 12th annual World Responsible Tourism Awards ceremony hosted by World Travel Market, at the ExCeL London Exhibition and Convention Centre.
It's almost a year since the launch of the 60k coastal trail, which takes takes in 14 local attractions including Loop Head Lighthouse, the West Clare Railway, the Church of the Little Ark, Kilkee Victorian Town, and the Bridges of Ross – all part of the Wild Atlantic Way.
Cllr James Breen, Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council, congratulated Loop Head on its success, adding that the trail has “strengthened the overall heritage tourism product on offer" in Co Clare.
He added that the win show "how a simple concept that harnesses existing infrastructure and attractions to promote a local area can and does pay dividends from a tourism and heritage perspective."
“We are over the moon to have won and are absolutely delighted for the team of people who worked with us," said Cillian Murohy, chair of Loop Head Tourism. "We feel it is a just reward for all the people on the [Loop Head] Peninsula who have an interest in protecting our, now, world class heritage."
The trail at Loop Head features Carrigaholt Castle and Bay, Bridges of Ross, Kilkee Cliffs and Pollock Holes (WAW Discovery Points), Church of the Little Ark (Signature Discovery Point), Bishops Island, Dunlicka Castle, Loop Head Pilots Memorial and Kilbaha Bay, Grave of the Yellow Men, Rinevella Bay and Submerged Forest, Kilcredaun Churches and Holy Well, Querrin Pier and the West Clare Railway
Clare County Council Heritage Officer Congella McGuire noted the community’s development and promotion of the Trail as key to its success in being named a winner in the awards scheme.
She said that a systematic methodology was used in the development of the Trail. Loop Head Tourism under took 'reading the landscape' training, then completed a field by field audit of the heritage sites on the peninsula prior to an assessment of access, historical interest and site suitable to form the trail.
“Potential heritage sites were identified by locals and project leaders, and then assessed for suitability,” she added. “In-depth research was then conducted into the sites under categories such as maritime history, folklore and traditions, flora and fauna, and built, military, and religious heritage.
"he result has been the delivery of a trail that promotes the heritage of the area in a sustainable way that is delivering significant economic benefits for the wider community.”
The World Responsible Tourism Awards win is the latest in a series of achievements for tourism interests in the Peninsula in recent years.
Loop Head was named as the Best Place to Holiday in Ireland by The Irish Times in 2013 and was named winner of the European Destination of Excellence (EDEN) Award in 2010. The peninsula was named the winner of “best destination’ in this year’s Irish Responsible Tourism awards and was also shortlisted in the ‘Best Destination for Responsible Tourism’ category of the 2013 World Responsible Tourism Awards.
Loop Head Peninsula is also the only Irish destination to be named in the inaugural Sustainable Destinations Global Top 100, which was announced in late 2014.
The trail was launched by Clare County Council, in partnership with Loop Head Tourism, Clare Local Development Company, The Heritage Council, Fáilte Ireland, ActiveMe and Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM).
