Marine Blast and MalinWaters have come together to expand the extensive marine directory that exists on the Marine Blast mobile app to now include listings for North West Ireland including Donegal and Sligo, plus Northern Ireland. This app now provides a one stop shop for information on sailing and other coastal activities in these regions.
The Sail West project was originally launched on July 1, 2010 and is an EU project led by Donegal County Council. The MalinWaters consumer brand was developed as a result of the Sail West Project – a €7.4M Marine Tourism initiative that continues to promote marine tourism, linking the coastlines of Donegal, Sligo, Northern Ireland and the West of Scotland.
Director of Service from Donegal County Council, Mr. Michael O’hEanaigh commented: “The new alliance with Marine Blast to include listings for North West Ireland and Northern Ireland on the mobile app is another step towards connecting our necklace of marinas with the West of Scotland and promoting sailing and other marine tourism activities through continued marketing of the MalinWaters brand.
“We are continuing to develop new facilities with the recent completion of the new marina at Bunagee and Killybegs to follow in the future. Our goal is to open up our waters on the Wild Atlantic Way to encourage the sailing communities from further afield to experience the wonderful scenic coastline and wealth of marine tourism activities on offer here,” he said.
MalinWaters is part financed by the European Union's European Regional Development Fund through INTERREG IVA Cross-Border Programme managed by the Special European Unions Programmes Body with co-funding provided by the Department of the Environment in Northern Ireland and the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government in the Republic of Ireland.
This new relationship means the Marine Blast Marine Directory Scotland app now covers marinas and facilities in North West Ireland and Northern Ireland and gives a wider audience for this powerful marine tourism tool. Acting as a series of stepping stones, it doesn’t lead you on a fixed route, but gives you options to design your holiday in the way you want.
The app has been designed with the sailor, whether experienced or recreational, in mind. Easy navigation is essential and is delivered either by tapping on a category, or viewing it on a map perfect when you want to find the nearest supplier of what you need!
Marine Blast Multimedia’s Iain Hurrel explained: “We don’t know where journeys are started so it’s important we cover as many routes as possible. We want everyone who goes out onto the water to have the best experience they can. It’s our job to make their journey comfortable and, give them information from activities and events to sail repair and engine services – which they might need. That’s why we’re so delighted with our new relationship with MalinWaters
“Northern Ireland is only 12 miles (as the crow flies) from Kintyre. We share many of the same opportunities for water based activities; indeed we welcome some of their best yachtsmen to regattas across Scotland every year. Co-operation at this level is a no-brainer we have worked hard to make the app, which is free to download and free to be listed on, the biggest in Scotland. Sharing data between ourselves and our colleagues in North West Ireland and Northern Ireland can only strengthen marine tourism on the Atlantic coast,” he said.
The Marine Blast App is available for iPhone and developers of the app will soon be launching it on Android.
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