Ministers Donohoe & Ring announce further €1m in funding for ‘Ireland’s Ancient East’

14th December, 2015

Announcement of second phase of capital investment for key attractions

 

 

The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Paschal Donohoe TD, along with Minister of State for Tourism, Michael Ring TD, have today (Monday) announced over €1m in a further phase of funding for capital projects in Ireland’s Ancient East. The funding is being made through Fáilte Ireland’s ‘New Ideas in Ancient Spaces’ Capital Grants Scheme and is for a further 13 projects within the Ireland’s Ancient East initiative. This second phase of investment brings the total funding under the ‘New Ideas in Ancient Spaces’ initiative to €2.26m and comes ahead of a new signage scheme to brand the region which is due to be rolled out in 2016.

 

This funding under the ‘New Ideas in Ancient Spaces’ Capital Grants Scheme follows a Fáilte Ireland call for applications from interested parties across the region. A further phase of funding in capital supports for the initiative is expected in 2016.

 

Launched last April, Ireland’s Ancient East is Fáilte Ireland’s latest tourism initiative and seeks to build on the wealth of historical and cultural assets in the east and south of Ireland. The new initiative seeks to give visitors a personal experience of 5,000 years of Irish history through a journey of discovery in a lush green landscape with stories told by the best storytellers in the world. Ireland’s Ancient East stretches from Carlingford to Cork and is intended to match and complement the Wild Atlantic Way in terms of scale and ambition.

 

Commenting on this further phase of capital funding for the project, Minister Donohoe today said: ’I am delighted to announce a further round of funding for ‘Ireland’s Ancient East’ and to ensure we maintain the momentum of this initiative and build on the impressive tourism assets we have in the east and south of the country. As this project evolves and grows, I am confident that it will be a perfect complement to the Wild Atlantic Way in the west and that it will generate significant additional visitors, revenue and tourism jobs in the east.’

 

Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Michael Ring TD, said: ‘At the end of the day, beyond all the marketing and advertising, the test of a holiday destination is the experience on the ground. We know that there are great experiences to be had based on our heritage and past but that we can do more to bring these to life. These projects today will incrementally boost the appeal of Ireland’s Ancient East and will deliver memorable experiences to those who come to explore the region.’

 

The capital funding announced in today is being awarded to:

 

Laois Laois Heritage Trails, Co Laois €84,804
Wexford Ros Tapestry, New Ross, Co Wexford €16,924
Cork Cobh Heritage Centre, Co Cork €28,443
Cork The Clockgate Tower Youghal, Co Cork €200,000
Wexford The Norman Way, Co Wexford €178,832
Tipperary The Butler Trail, Co Tipperary €109,654
Cork The Steam Centre Visitor Experience, Lifetime Lab, Cork City €59,685
Carlow Celtic Tree Experience, Blackstairs Eco Trails, Co Carlow €48,399
Cavan Castle Saunderson , Co Cavan

 

€60,175
Louth Louth Adventures, Co Louth €50,590
Meath Ireland’s Ancient Eats, Co Meath €49,500
Monaghan Glaslough Heritage Trail, Co Monaghan

 

€35,000
Waterford 3D Viking Experience, Waterford City €145,100

 

(For more on each project, see notes for editor below).

 

Fáilte Ireland Director of Business Development, Paul Keeley, today emphasised: ‘We in Fáilte Ireland are working directly with businesses and communities on the ground to turn the promise of the ‘Ireland’s Ancient East’ brand into a reality. By the end of the year, we will have helped to jump-start or augment projects within Ireland’s Ancient East and will have readied the region to deliver first class experiences to visitors during summer 2016.’

 

This funding comes as Fáilte Ireland prepares to install approximately 100 Ireland’s Ancient East orientation signs and 300 county boundary signs across the region in 2016. This new signage scheme will encourage visitors to explore Ireland’s Ancient East by making them aware of the wide range of things to see and across the area.

Get a full update on Ireland’s Ancient East here

For full details on Phase one funding click here

 

Ends