Moate has ‘heritage town’ potential with new projects

The potential for the town of Moate to be designated as a 'heritage town', and to have signage on the M6 motorway advertising that status, was highlighted by a top council official as details emerged of two new tourism initiatives being undertaken by the local community.

Moate Action Group is behind the projects, one of which is the €35,000 development of a local heritage trail, while the other is a €13,000 peatlands project based around two bogs to the west and east of the town.

On Friday last, at a meeting of the Westmeath County Council enterprise and tourism policy committee, the council's director of services Barry Kehoe said it was working with Moate Action Group to capitalise on the depth of heritage in the locality.

"Moate has a fantastic Quaker heritage and it's very much a heritage town, with Moate Castle and various other features, such as the moat itself which gives the town its name.

"If we can have Moate recognised as a heritage town it will allow us, I hope, to put signs to that effect on the M6 which will encourage a lot more visitors to come into Moate, and give it a lift in terms of tourism.

"It will also be very important for local people to give them pride in their town and its history," he said.

Discussing the details of the two Moate Action Group initiatives, he said a lot of work had been done to develop the heritage trail, and some €27,000 in LEADER funding had been secured for it.

The total cost is just under €35,000, and the local authority agreed to put up approximately €6,000, with the balance to come from local sources.

"The project involves plaques, information signs, street signs and directional signs, with a historic theme. It will, in particular, highlight the amenities in Moate and its Quaker heritage," said Mr Kehoe.

The second project, a €13,000 peatlands initiative, will focus on Ballinderry bog, around two kilometres to the north east of Moate, and Carn Park bog, five kilometres to the west of the town in Mount Temple/Baylin.

"This project involves putting together information on those bogs, and putting together a tourist attraction and information for local people," said Mr Kehoe.

"We are keen on this project because it will bring a further point of interest to the Greenway.

“That's what having a Greenway is all about. To get visitors to come, and to return, we need these points of interest, these local facilities and amenities, to be highlighted,” he explained.

The majority of the funding for the peatlands initiative (€10,000) had been allocated from the Government's Peatlands Community Engagement Scheme, and the council agreed to provide the remaining €3,000.

Cllr John Dolan formally proposed the two funding allocations from the council, and paid tribute to the community work being done in Moate.

"Moate Action Group are doing great work in the area. They are not in my (electoral) area any more but I still want to support what they're doing," said Cllr Dolan.