In 2008, a Marine Leisure Infrastructure Strategy for 719km of the West Cork coast in the south-west of Ireland was published (
CMRC, 2008).
At that time the new-found wealth of the Irish population put a demand
on marine leisure infrastructure. The 2008 Strategy was commissioned to
address the lack of leisure facilities by improving infrastructure in
old fishing harbours and by developing slipways and associated
facilities in popular holiday destinations in West Cork to augment the
established services. In 2010, a Marine Leisure Infrastructure Strategy
for the remaining coast of Cork ( – 500km) was published (
CMRC, 2010).
This latest Strategy was developed in an economic climate which is
radically different to that of 2008, when there was a proliferation of
‘cash-rich time-poor’ city dwellers and foreign tourists willing to
spend money along the Irish Coast, and when there was funding available
for capital projects through Government agencies, public private
partnerships and private developers. Ireland is now one of the most
indebted countries in the western world. Unemployment has risen from
4.3% in January 2005 to 12.7% in January 2010 (
CSO, 2010)
and for those still working, salaries have dropped in some cases by
15–20% leaving little in the way of disposable income to spend on
leisure activities. With the aid of community funding schemes and
stakeholder input from local and national organisations such as Cork
County Council, Town Councils, Port Companies, Fállte Ireland (national
tourism agency) and development partnerships/enterprise boards, the 2010
Strategy has put forward achievable milestones which will enable the
coastal tourism industry to survive in one of the most difficult
economic times. This ‘bottom-up’ approach can easily be replicated in
other coastal areas where tourism is needed to supplement local
economies but where necessary levels of investment are lacking.