The Regional Director of Visit Scotland, David Adams McGilp, visited Lismore on the 1 February with Louise Glen Lee, Argyll and Bute’s Lead Councillor for Community, Culture, Customer and Communication, to see for themselves the part the island plays and could play in the regional tourist industry and to visit Ionad Naomh Moluag, the Lismore Gaelic Heritage Centre.
He had seen the award winning Taigh Iseabel Dhaidh on previous visits but was being introduced to the innovative eco building which since 2007 has housed a museum, café, shop, and a library. As with all cultural centres the main concern is visitor numbers, as the greatest product is as nothing if no-one is buying it. Lismore has a wonderful Heritage Centre but a few major difficulties such as a lack of transport from the two ferries for those unable or unwilling to cycle or walk, as well as a limited number of places to stay particularly overnight.
However a hotel is unlikely to materialise in the very near future or even a bunkhouse, though that is more likely, so we must work with the visitors we have and attempt to maximise them if the Centre is to thrive. The importance of the Visit Scotland website was stressed particularly as the Lismore entry at the moment makes no mention of the heritage centre although a very informative piece can be found elsewhere on the site. He promised to marry the two. Maximising results from the visitors’ centre in Oban was also discussed.
David Adams McGilp, in the cottage with Bob Hay
David Adams McGilp, in the museum with Bob Hay and Stuart Ross 1 February 2013