Sliabh Liag
Donegal County Council has defended its decision to carry out upgrade works to Sliabh Liag during the peak of the summer season saying the majority of visitors will not be affected.
Yesterday the council revealed it is closing parts of the iconic tourist attraction for a week from August 18th to upgrade walkways.
A helicopter will carry in more than 500 tonnes of stone to upgrade the walks at the site.
Local TD Thomas Pringle slammed the move and said the council should wait until September at least to carry out the works.
But the council has now assured the public that the necessary works will not have a major impact on tourists.
A statement said “Donegal County Council wishes to stress that the works and the closure of these sections of path will have no impact on the majority of visitors to Sliabh Liag as the upper car park and viewing areas at Bunglas which are the destination for the majority of visitors to Sliabh Liag will remain open at all times during the helicopter lifting operations.
“The helicopter lifting operations have been arranged in consultation with stakeholders including the National Parks and Wildlife Service, Mountaineering Ireland, local hill walking groups and others.
“The exclusion areas have been designed to minimise both risks to the public whilst also minimising the impact on visitors to the area and affected businesses.”
The council added that the works are scheduled in line with weather – a claim disputed by Deputy Pringle who claims there will be very little difference in carrying them out a month later.
He has appealed to the council to reconsider and reschedule their plans in Autumn saying Donegal tourism realistically has a six week period.
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