ARRANMORE, off the coast of Donegal, has urged visitors not to travel to the island until at least the end of March to safeguard the elderly and vulnerable.
Three miles off Burtonport, the island is hugely popular with tourists and visitors visiting the county. With a population of just under 500, the island took the unusual step last year of writing an open letter to the US and Australia inviting people to relocate to Arranmore to ensure the island’s viability.
The decision to ask visitors not to travel to the island was taken by the Arranmore Island Development Cooperative (CFFAM). Manager at CFFAM, Nóirín Uí Mhaoldomhnaigh said the island wished to limit non-essential travel.
“If there’s no need for you to come to visit the island then we’d ask you not to come. We have our own community that’s coming and going but we’re trying to restrict the movement of visitors as much as possible,” she said.
Ms Uí Mhaoldomhnaigh said other islands were imposing similar conditions. The Arranmore request has been echoed by the Tory Island Cooperative.
Tory lies nine miles off the coast and is home to around 140 people. The island relies heavily on tourism. The Cooperative also asked visitors not to travel until at least the end of March and intends reviewing the request next week.
Representatives of all Irish islands were expected to meet the Republic’s Health Service Executive yesterday to discuss further ways of curtailing the spread of the coronavirus.
