I was very interested in reading a recent article in the Southern Star about how our town of Bandon was not mentioned in the latest South West Ireland pocket guide published recently by Failte Ireland.

Many of you may not be aware of it but this also happenend in 2009. The Irish Times produced a pull-out section promoting the general West Cork area and lo and behold, Bandon barely received a mention. So what is happening and what is going wrong? Here are a few thoughts ….

Two years ago, I contacted Bord Failte and they gave me an explanation which explains partly why Bandon did not get a mention. There are significant costs in producing such a publication and if my memory serves me correctly, local business (hotels, pubs etc) paid for half of the production costs whil Bord Failte grant aided the remaining 50%. I was informed that a few Bandon firms were asked to contribute to the costs and they chose not to do so. Firms in other areas were very active in funding this project. Bandon does not (at present) have the same level of hotels / accomodation that other towns have … it simply is not a true tourist town like others and we simply cannot expect the same, reliable firms to fund something that does not really benefit them at the moment. (Let’s not fool ourselves … we are a trading town first, a town with an active population and an amazing history second) The irony is that unless we promote our town, we cannot get the footfall to justify more accomodation. Where do we start the change? (The powers that be should still give our town a mention … we do exist, we have one of the largest populations of any town in West Cork, we are a major travel destination and we have a lot to offer!)

(Quick update as of 12 April 2011 … some of the details (in grey) relating to Bord Failte may have to be updated / corrected and I’m awaiting confirmation of same)

One should also take note of the following: to the best of my knowledge Bandon falls under the Cork city Bord Failte offices while other west Cork towns fall under the West Cork section of Bord Failte …. one organisation with different branches. I fear that the city offices may believe that the West Cork offices are doing their bit for Bandon while the west Cork offices feel that Bandon is outside their remit. If this is the case … then it is simply ridiculous for a state body to make such an error.

(Update as of April 12 – A paragraph that was posted here has been deleted as I have received updated information and am just awaiting confirmation to use the updated data about what the West Cork Development Partnership does. Apologies for any error or confusion)

(DELETED PARAGRAPH).

Please find below some corrections / clarifications from Mr Ian Dempsey of thw WCDP relating to a recent piece posted here and referred to in the Opinion magazine:

 The West Cork Development Partnership was not involved in any shape or form with the production of the Failte Ireland South West pocket guide and therefore has no relevance to the published article.

·         The comment “Bandon falls under the management of the West Cork Development Partnership branch in Clonakilty, while any development partnership east of the town is under the control of the City Enterprise Board….” Is wholly incorrect.  In so far as the West Cork Development Partnership is relevant to the piece (and I don’t believe that it is), it should be noted that all programmes managed by the WCDP  (LEADER, LCDP, TUS, Rural Social Scheme, Warmer Homes Scheme, Walks and Rural Recreation) are available throughout the entire Bandon electoral area.  Funding and development support continues to be available and we are happy to consider enquiries and applications from throughout West Cork, including the entire Bandon Electoral Area. Similar supports are provide in the Carrigaline Electoral Area by the South  East Cork Area Development Ltd.  It is an autonomous and independent entity in no way linked or under the control of the City Enterprise Board, which itself does not provide development support outside the city boundaries.

·         As far as I’m aware Bord Failte, or more accurately Failte Ireland South West, does not operate separate City and West Cork branches.

The WCDP under Ian Dempsey and his colleagues do a great job for the West Cork area and they may be able to help Bandon with promotion of our town.

A few years ago when I first started considering the creation of a Bandon Town Map & Guide, I spoke to a very well known artist from Skibbereen. He informed me then that the ‘town of Bandon has one of the most interesting histories of any of the towns of Munster, if not in Ireland’. It is fair to say that we, as a town, have not fully marketed our town. We, as locals, are partly to blame but there is also an onus on state organisations to help towns to develop their historical heritage. Consider the following:

The West Cork Heritage Centre / Christchurch is simply a gem! You must see it to believe it. It also holds the birth and death records of those who lived in West Cork many years ago.

The Bandon Music festival attracts thousands of visitors on a yearly basis.

The Bandon Summer Show which takes place in Castlebernard each year is one of the largest Summer shows in Cork.

Bandon does not get the name of ‘Bandon the motor town’ (http://www.bandonthemotortown.ie/contentv3/) by accident. Bandon has held the Treffen motor rally, has had various motor events take place in Old Chapel every year. Only last Sunday we could see a convoy of fantastic vintage cars travelling through our town.

There are many equestrian events that take place in the general Bandon area every year. The success of various horses bred and trained in the local area is well documented.

Our sporting heritage and participation rate is a great source of pride for our town. There are very few (if any) towns in Ireland of the same population with more clubs, charities and voluntary groups. Bandon IS alive. See for yourselves … have a look at the number of young athletes getting involved with the Bandon Athletic Club( http://www.bandonac.org/wordpress/ )on a Monday or Wednesday night. Travel up to the town park on a Saturday to see our future Robbie Keane’s in action. Consider the number of kids doing rugby and hockey on a Saturday morning. The hurling and football players keep their clubs very busy also.

We might use the phrase ‘Bandon … the Gateway to West Cork’, but I believe that such a phrase does a disservice to our town. Our town is much more than just a ‘Gateway’. We have a busy commercial trading centre … unlike other local towns, Bandon has all-year trading unlike others that are seasonally affected. We have a wide range of shops that rivals that of Cork city … consider the range of clothing outlets for men and women; many future brides have come to Bandon from all parts of Ireland to buy wedding related clothing and accessories. The quality of locally produced foods has resulted in local companies gainaing national awards. Local food companioes such as Tobins (http://food.zibb.co.uk/profile/tobin’s+bakery+ltd/ie/co+cork/bandon/23159766) , Coolmore Foods (http://www.coolmorefoods.ie/) and Heavens Cakes (http://www.bandonfarmersmarket.com/stalls/heavens-cakes/) set the standard. New local companies such as Katies chocolates are hidden treasures! (http://www.katiesrealchocolate.ie/). Cosider the work and success of the Bandon Co-Marketing Group and how they have put a spotlight on our town.

Check out the weekly Farmers market and Country market to get the best of local produce.

So what do we do? Instead of another organisation being set up by the same civic minded people, could we not agree upon getting a group together with responsibilty to oversee the promotion of our town. Those involved with the Bandon Bonus Card system have done a great job highlighting the retail benefits of Bandon. The Bandon Chamber of Commerce, as well as the Bandon Working Together Group may be able to take the lead on this in conjunction with members of the Town Council.

Bandon also has an amazing history (http://www.bandon.ie/history/past-present-and-future/an-amazing-past/), we have plenty of things to see and do: (http://www.bandon.ie/information/tourist-information/30-things-to-do-in-bandon/) , consider doing some of the fitness walks: (http://www.bandon.ie/information/tourist-information/fitness-walks/) or from a historical point of view … just have a look at the following link: http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=106116627459969148794.0004735329ac817128111&ll=51.74619,-8.735933&spn=0.012754,0.027466&z=15&source=embed

In a few weeks time, the great work of Bandon Athletic Club in gonjunction with Bandon Rugby Club will be putting together a half marathon / 10k run (See http://www.bandonhalfmarathon.com/ for more details). This should see thousands of people in participation and hopefully as many if not more lining the streets and roads in support. Only a town like Bandon can do all of these activities. Bandon continues to be a very active town … in all senses of the word … I encourage Failte Ireland / Bord Failte to showcase what we have on offer.

I have been lucky as I have had the privilege of working with some great people, young and old, to create the www.bandon.ie website and the various versions of the Bandon Town Map & Guide. I would ask members of Bord Failte to consider looking at what our town has to offer and help our town achieve it’s tourism potential. They have my full permission to use any of the articles on the website! Help us to reach our potential!

Any replies / comments are appreciated. (visitbandon@gmail.com)

T Collins

Original Posting: Mar 23, Updated on Mar 31 and more recently on April 12