Ministers Donohoe & Ring announce initial €1.8m in funding for ‘Ireland’s Ancient East’ : Paschal Donohoe TD, Fine Gael Dublin Central,

Ministers Donohoe & Ring announce initial €1.8m in funding for ‘Ireland’s Ancient East’

9th September, 2015

Ministers Donohoe & Ring announce initial €1.8m in funding for ‘Ireland’s Ancient East’

Announcement of first phase of Fáilte Ireland capital investment for key attractions as well as funding for initial signage

The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Paschal Donohoe TD, along with Minister of State for Tourism, Michael Ring TD, today announced €1.2m in funding for capital projects in Ireland’s Ancient East along with an additional €600k for the first stage of branded signage for all counties within the region.

The €1.2m Capital funding is the first phase of investment through Fáilte Ireland’s ‘New ideas in Ancient Spaces’ Capital Grants Scheme and is for an initial 12 projects within the Ireland’s Ancient East initiative. It is expected that projects in every county within Ireland’s Ancient East will be supported through the scheme over the coming months.

This first phase of funding under the ‘New ideas in Ancient Spaces’ Capital Grants Scheme follows a Fáilte Ireland call for applications from interested parties across the region. Fáilte Ireland is currently assessing a number of further applications from that call and will be announcing another round of funding before the end of the year.

Launched last April, Ireland’s Ancient East is Fáilte Ireland’s latest tourism initiative and aims 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 5000 years of Irish history through a journey of discovery stretching from Carlingford to Cork and is intended to match and complement the Wild Atlantic Way in terms of scale and ambition.

Commenting on the first phase of capital funding for the initiative, Minister Donohoe today said: “This funding is just the first phase in a programme to animate the great amount of history and heritage in ‘Ireland’s Ancient East’ and allow us to build on the tourism assets we have in the east and south of the country. With tourism businesses already mobilising behind the new initiative, I believe that Ireland’s Ancient East will prove as effective and popular as the Wild Atlantic Way and will ultimately deliver significant additional numbers of visitors, revenue and jobs to the region”.

Minister of State for Tourism, Michael Ring TD, said: “Ensuring that we continue to position Ireland in a way that allows us to compete with other countries and attract overseas visitors is crucial. So far this year we have seen more tourists coming to Ireland than ever before, helping to create jobs and support the economy. We must make sure that continues. Tourism offerings such as the Wild Atlantic Way in the west of Ireland have really sparked the public imagination. I have no doubt that Ireland’s Ancient East, with the potential to deliver an additional 600,000 overseas visitors to the region and increase visitor revenue by almost 25% by 2020, will do the same”.

The capital funding announced in today’s first phase of the ‘New ideas in Ancient Spaces’ Capital Grants Scheme is being awarded to:

Lullymore Heritage & Discovery Park Ltd – enhanced visitor experience, County Kildare (€29k);
Titanic Connections, Cork (€50k);
Uisneach Interpretative Centre, County Westmeath (€65k);
Tholsel Visitor Centre, Fethard, County Tipperary (€198k);
Redevelopment of Powerscourt Visitor Interpretation Experience, County Wicklow (€80k);
Athlone Castle – Enhancing the Visitor Experience, County Westmeath (€76k);
Hook Lighthouse Guided Tour Experience, County Wexford (€80k);
Journeys of Exploration, Anglo Irish Heritage at Blackrock Castle, Cork (€160k);
Dunleckney Maltings, Carlow (€200k);
Birr’s Anglo Irish & Early Christian Heritage, County Offaly (€84k);
Boyne Valley: Waterway through Time, Trim, County Meath (€86k);
Ancient Stones, Untold Stories – St Canice’s Cathedral & Round Tower Interpretation Project, Kilkenny (€80k).

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

Fáilte Ireland CEO Shaun Quinn today emphasised: “Fáilte Ireland is working directly with businesses and communities on the ground to bring this new experience brand alive. During the assessment phase for this capital funding, we were incredibly impressed by the enthusiasm and high quality of ideas within the proposals that we received. Today’s funding is just the first phase in capital supports to improve and augment the great variety of attractions already in the region and we will be in a position to announce further grants in the near future.

“As an initiative firmly rooted in our past and our stories, it is vital that we bring these stories alive to take full advantage of the opportunities provided by Ireland’s Ancient East. Today’s funding will help us towards that goal and, by the year’s end, we will have helped to prime projects in every county within Ireland’s ancient East.”

Mr Quinn pointed out that Ireland’s Ancient East was an evolving initiative with much work to do. Fáilte Ireland is working with businesses and communities in the region to bring the proposition to life and to animate the stories of their locality. Mr Quinn added that, as part of the work to create a unified ‘look’ for the new initiative, €600k was now being allocated for the first phase of a signage and interpretation programme to bring all the diverse elements of Ireland’s Ancient East under the new experience brand.

Mr Quinn added that Fáilte Ireland was also working with tourism businesses to help them actively sell the new proposition to potential customers and tourism trade overseas. Indeed, this week, Minister Donohoe is with Tourism Ireland promoting the new proposition to overseas buyers in North America – with the aid of a new Fáilte Ireland produced promotional film which you can VIEW HERE.

Download Selection of Photos of Capital Projects HERE

Ends Press Office, Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, 01 604 1090 / 01 604 1093 www.dttas.ie pressoffice@dttas.ie

Notes for Editor

Fáilte Ireland

Fáilte Ireland, the national tourism development authority, was established in 2003 to guide and promote tourism as a leading indigenous component of the Irish economy. The tourism and hospitality industry employs an estimated 205,000 people and generates over €3.5billion in overseas revenue a year.

Ireland’s Ancient East

Ireland’s Ancient East is geared to maximise the history and heritage in East and South of Ireland and bring it to greater international attention. To do this, the new initiative will offer visitors a personal experience of 5000 years of history through a relaxing journey of discovery in the beautiful landscape that attracted warring settlers for millennia and illuminated by stories from the best storytellers in the world – the local people. Stretching from Carlingford, County Louth down through Newgrange and the Boyne Valley in the north east and ranging through the midlands all the way down via Kilkenny’s Medieval mile to Waterford’s Viking Quarter and Cork’s many cultural attractions, the new experience brand is intended to match and complement the Wild Atlantic Way in terms of scale and ambition.

Based on comprehensive research in overseas markets, the initiative is aimed at particular market segments overseas who have indicated they would be more likely to come to Ireland to explore new landscapes, history and culture or simply to take time out from their busy lives and careers to connect with local heritage and nature and their own place within.

Fáilte Ireland’s research suggests that an initiative themed along these lines has the potential to deliver an extra 600,000 overseas visitors (growth of more than 20%) to the region and increase visitor revenue by almost 25% to €950m in total by 2020.

You can learn more about Ireland’s Ancient East here.

‘New ideas in Ancient Spaces’ Capital Grants Scheme

Fáilte Ireland launched their ‘New ideas in Ancient Spaces’ Capital Grants Scheme to encourage the development of compelling visitor experiences throughout the Ireland’s Ancient East region. This funding is being provided to ensure that the Ireland’s Ancient East experience brand delivers on its promise to visitors. The scheme favours projects which match what visitors to Ireland’s Ancient East are expecting, namely a destination:

that is easy and enjoyable to explore;
where heritage experiences are memorable because they tell their story so well;
where the stories told at individual heritage sites link to other sites across the region and to an overall timeline, building to a unique, fascinating and enriching journey through 5,000 years of European history.

The projects granted assistance under the first phase of funding include:

Tholsel Visitor Centre, Fethard, County Tipperary

The Tholsel Visitor Centre project seeks to create a distinctive, interactive and compelling resource and platform to promote Fethard in county Tipperary as a significant visitor destination. Fethard has an unrivalled heritage resource in the Tholsel, Holy Trinity Church and Augustinian Abbey. Its town walls are considered the most perfect surviving example in Ireland and are therefore a unique attraction.

Following earlier works, this application will support phase two of the development of the Tholsel, in the construction and associated works in preparing the building for transformation into a state of the art visitor centre.

On completion, the Tholsel will house an interactive exhibition focused on Medieval Fethard, its place at the centre of Ireland’s horse country and the story of Coolmore Stud. This project will marry the story of Fethard with other attractions of Ireland’s Ancient East particularly in places like Kilkenny, Cashel and Carrick on Suir. With other members of Irish Walled Town Network in Ireland’s Ancient East, namely; Youghal, Waterford, New Ross, Wexford, Clonmel, Castledermot, Athy, Trim and Drogheda. Notwithstanding the equine heritage of Fethard spreads out into county Tipperary and links effortlessly with experiences in county Kildare.

Redevelopment of Powerscourt Visitor Interpretation Experience, County Wicklow

Powerscourt Estate attracts more than 500,000 domestic and overseas visitors per annum with Powerscourt Gardens ranked as one of Ireland’s top 20 most visited attractions. The proposed interpretation and enhancement projects at Powerscourt House, Gardens and Waterfall seek to share the stories of Powerscourt and offer a world class visitor experience.

The untold stories of Powerscourt are seen as opportunities to engage with visitors. The team at Powerscourt have engaged extensively with Fáilte in designing the approach in this proposal. In all, four projects have been identified for investment. In redeveloping the interpretative experience in Powerscourt Gardens, the leading characters along with anecdotes and stories of the estate will be shared at key points in the gardens – where links to an artefact or the landscape will tell a human interest story related to Powerscourt.

The new Audio Visual presentation in Powerscourt House will share the stories and people of the estate and provide the visitors with an engaging interpretative experience which invites them to be part of the estate rather than a bystander.

The redevelopment of the visitor experience at Powerscourt Waterfall, Ireland’s highest waterfall, will see the development of a sensory trail, the installation of interpretation and information panels at the waterfalls and the updating of the welcome signage and information panels.

Finally, the restoration of important historical artefacts in Powerscourt Gardens is imperative to the preservation of the Italianate design of the gardens and includes the ironwork gates, statuary and water features.

The project sets to create immersive and engaging visitor experiences by sharing the stories of Powerscourt, its residences and gardeners through improved and new multi-lingual interpretation with enhancements to preserve the quality of the visitor attraction.

Athlone Castle – Enhancing the Visitor Experience, County Westmeath

This is a programme of interventions to enhance the visitor experience at Athlone Castle. The centre piece of this project is the provision of a new multi-lingual audio guide in five European languages and English. Along with a costumed guided tour by heritage interpreters, downloadable guide and App with outdoor information panels which will highlight buildings and landmarks that have historical and cultural significance to Athlone and the greater region of Ireland’s Ancient East. Athlone Castle has strong connections with other sites and historic events in the wider IAE region including the Battle of the Boyne, Hill of Tara, Kilkenny Castle and nearby Clonmacnoise.

This project will improve the interpretation of Athlone Castle, visually through the costumed guided tours and particularly for the overseas visitors with the multi-lingual audio guides. The proposed engagement between the well-known and established sites and those off the beaten track create a natural thread through which visitors can link their journey through Ireland’s Ancient East.

Hook Lighthouse Guided Tour Experience, County Wexford

Hook Lighthouse is the oldest operational lighthouse in the world and offers a completely unique experience and opportunity to discover 800 years of lighthouse keeping. The development of a new “Watchtower Experience” within the existing site at Hook Lighthouse will bring to life the characters and stories of Hook Lighthouse, the shipwrecks and sea stories, all a testament of the 800 years of lighthouse keeping at this iconic site. The modern watchtower structure provides panoramic vistas of the seascape and with supporting sound and video interpretation, the modern lighthouse keeper and that of his wife’s story will be told.

Enhancement to the existing guided tour in the medieval lighthouse is proposed through improved interpretation with new storyboards, information panels, holograms and lighting. Investment in the welcome signage is proposed along with indoor and outdoor interpretation panels on the visitor centre site will share the stories of Ireland’s Ancient East sites associated with the medieval monks, William Marshal’s Leinster and the Great Lighthouses of Ireland trail. Upgrading of the multi-lingual brochure is included.

Journeys of Exploration, Anglo Irish Heritage at Blackrock Castle, Cork

Blackrock Castle is the oldest surviving structure still in use in the city of Cork; a 16th century fort. A compelling new, high-quality interpretive experience, Journeys of Exploration, is the project proposal at the Blackrock Castle. The story of the Anglo Irish and Cork’s maritime heritage will be told through new multi-lingual interpretation and exhibits at the rooftop, gunnery, courtyard and castle slipway.

The project will enhance the visitor experience at Blackrock Castle by the investment in non-personal heritage interpretation especially for overseas visitors whose needs are not currently met with the guided tours and science experience available.

Dunleckney Maltings, County Carlow

The development of a new visitor experience is proposed by providing a unique opportunity to learn about the brewing and distilling heritage in a building that has been integrally linked to the Irish brewing sector for over 200 years. Located on the outskirts of Bagenalstown in county Carlow, the restoration of the former brewery and maltings at Dunleckney and its development into a world class visitor experience is proposed, in association with the locally based Carlow Brewing Company, a leading Irish craft brewery.

The restored brewery will offer guided tours and along with multi-lingual storyboards and leaflets, share the unique story of Carlow Brewing, the brewing heritage of the area, provide opportunities to meet the producers, to taste the beers and participate in demonstrations.

Birr’s Anglo Irish & Early Christian Heritage to Life, County Offaly

Birr Town is book-ended by two key attractions, Birr Castle which attracts 60,000 visitors per annum and the MacRegol Gospels in Birr Library which attracts approximately 5,000 visitors per annum. Retaining its authentic 18^th and 19^th century Georgian character, Birr town centre is located between both attractions. The development of an accessible tourism experience framework to encourage visitors to explore the full range of visitor attractions of Birr town and its castle is proposed by telling Birr’s Anglo Irish story and connecting it with the legacy of St Brendan.

Five visitor experiences have been identified including, the development of a guided walking tour, a 3-D tourist map, installation of multi-lingual interpretation panels and directional signage, a tourism website and app and implement iBeacon Technology.

Boyne Valley: Waterway through Time, County Meath

The Boyne Valley has a unique heritage spanning 5000 years of Ireland’s Ancient East including Mythical, Neolithic, Medieval, Monastic, Celtic and Anglo-Norman and Irish heritage. The Boyne Valley “Waterway Through Time” is a major initiative to boost economic development in the Boyne Valley region by restoring the navigation on the River Boyne and along the canal network between Drogheda at Oldbridge to the Newgrange Interpretive Centre, covering some 35kms of waterway.

The restoration work needed is to the lock walls and gate at Staleen and the canal to Brú na Boinne and will create a direct channel between to the visitor sites of the Battle of the Boyne and Newgrange and the villages along the route.

The opening up of the waterway will facilitate an enhanced visitor experience and will create the opportunity for SMEs to establish new visitor experiences including heritage tours, barge trips, water based activities, canal side cafes and eco-trails.

Ancient Stones, Untold Stories – St Canice’s Cathedral & Round Tower Interpretation Project, Kilkenny City

Much of St Canice’s significance lies in the continual use of the site as a place of ecclesiastical worship and residence from early Christian times down to the present day. The project proposes to enhance the interpretation of St Canice’s Cathedral and Round Tower, through simple yet effective techniques which will enhance the serenity of the site, allowing for self-discovery for visitors to enjoy and explore the Cathedral itself, its setting and associated buildings and features and the wider context of this part of Kilkenny.

The interpretation enhancements proposed include the provision of guided tours, the use of re-enactments, virtual tours and augmented reality along with interpretative installations. Multi-lingual interpretation will be available throughout.

Lullymore Heritage & Discovery Park Ltd – enhanced visitor experience, County Kildare

Lullymore is the only attraction in Ireland offering a comprehensive experience of the peatlands and the history and culture of the rural communities that lived there through the ages. It tells the story of the early settlers, the local ancient togher roads and bog bodies, its influential monastery, rebellion against local landlords, industrialisation and the unique environment of the Peatlands.

This project proposal seeks to upgrade this unique attraction through the ages, through the installation of new interpretative panels, replica models, upgrading of its website, investment in its multi-lingual audio device translations and developing costumed tours.

Titanic Connections, Cork

The Titanic Experience tells the story of the last 123 passengers that boarded Titanic from Cobh. Located in the original white star line ticket office building and adjacent to, what is known as the Heartbreak/Titanic Pier. It is estimated that in excess of 1 million emigrants who left Ireland would have walked down this pier.

The project proposed in Titanic Connections consists of two phases with Phase1 being the subject of this application for funding and relates to improving the visitor experience within the exhibition. Phase2 relates to refurbishment and providing interpretation for Titanic Pier.

The Titanic Experience has commenced a campaign to source new stories from descendants of emigrants who emigrated from Cobh which will form the basis of the new exhibits along with the introduction of character re-enactments, holographic imagery to bring to life the emigrant’s story, along with language translation. Innovative use of interpretation through the use of the senses including smell, temperature and buoyancy will form part of the enhanced visitor experience.

The Uisneach Interpretative Centre, County Westmeath

The Hill of Uisneach is the mythological and scared centre of Ireland located between Athlone and Mullingar with no dedicated visitor interpretation or basic services on site. The 150 acre Hill comprises two national monuments and is part of a larger private farm. Ireland’s Ancient East has brought a new focus on its sustainable tourism potential.

The project proposal is to convert a cottage into a new visitor space to provide a visitor experience and improve the interpretation of The Hill of Uisneach. This proposal should be viewed as an initial step in a multi phased development approach to realise the potential of Uisneach.