CHRISTY ROCHE APPOINTED HERITAGE SPECIALIST FOR REGION
The Avondhu Blackwater Partnership has appointed the Fermoy based geographer, historian and author, Christy Roche as their first heritage specialist for the region.
Welcoming the move, local Fine Gael TD, Tom Barry told The Avondhu that the area needed an expert with Mr Roches’s undoubted knowledge: “Christy has an encyclopedic knowledge of the landscape, history and heritage of our area. I am very excited with the appointment which will, in time, be seen as being pivotal to tourism, both cultural and literary tourism, in the Blackwater Valley region.
"If combined with an initiative in tourism, this may help reverse the dropping numbers we have seen over the last number of years and will help deliver real money into people’s pockets in the street,” Deputy Barry said.
Avondhu Blackwater Partnership chief executive, Valerie Murphy confirmed that the appointment marks the beginning of a concerted drive to give the rich cultural, literary and historical heritage of the Avondhu Blackwater region a distinct direction and focus.
“I am delighted with the appointment of Christy Roche to the position as there is an enormously rich heritage in the Avondhu Blackwater region and this appointment is a major step forward in capitalising on that,” Ms Murphy said.
Series of seminars Mr Roche said that one of his first undertakings will be a series of seminars held in the communities of the Avondhu Blackwater region to give local people a comprehensive overview of just how much their particular part of the region has to offer.
“It is also essential that we promote cultural tourism in Ireland as this is a very sustainable industry in the long term and will provide many jobs for our young people. I would like to thank Valerie Murphy for her initiative and forward thinking in ensuring this position is created and I look forward to working with Valerie and Christy to ensure that their vision reaches its full potential,” Deputy Barry concluded.
Published:
Thursday 19th May 6:24pm
