Kilkenny people horrified at condition of Tramore Beach in Waterford
Fifty years ago this week: The biggest stories in The Kilkenny People (Friday, May 28, 1976)
The appalling condition of Tramore strand was described by members of Kilkenny Co Council when they discussed the development of tourism in the South-East region on Monday.
Mr Sean Walsh said that when he visited Tramore recently he was 'horrified' by the condition of the strand.
“What was once a golden beach because of its lovely sand is now entirely covered by gravel,” he declared.
Another councillor, Mr Michael Lanigan, asked what family would bring children to Tramore today with the number of amusements there?
Families did not want that type of amusement - they wanted the sea, the beach, accommodation, friendliness and good food, he said.
A £50 million five-year plan for the development of tourism in Ireland is to be launched by Bord Failte, Mr William Walsh, area manager of the Bord, told the meeting.
It is hoped that tourism this year will yield about £170 million.
To get the plan off the ground, the Bord will spend £30 million from central funds. The plan will lay particular stress on the country's cultural heritage.
There was a lengthy discussion and members raised many points of local interest.
There was criticism of the fact that Kilkenny had been left out of all the sign-posting in the South-East region.
Miss Mary Cavanagh said that more attention should be given to the Irish holidaymaker as much as was given to foreign tourists by hoteliers and guesthouses and more training should be given to handcraft shop attendants.