For most Offaly people, the headline news arising out of yesterday’s announcement of over €32 million in investment grants under Fáilte Ireland’s EU Just Transition Regenerative Tourism and Placemaking Scheme was the allocation of €7.8 million to the Office of Public Works for the purpose of redeveloping the visitor centre at Clonmacnoise.
This will fund the refurbishment and extension to buildings to enhance the experience for visitors, and I believe it represents a wonderful opportunity, as long as it is backed up by further supports, as well as a real commitment to go the extra mile from all stakeholders involved.
This funding has the potential to completely transform the visitor experience at Clonmacnoise, which is undoubtedly a hidden gem as a tourist location and as a site of unparalleled historical resonance and significance.
Alongside over €27 million in funding for various projects, with Shannonbridge Marina and William Street in Birr also receiving funding, there was also €3.6million funding for Bord na Móna to prepare for new walking and cycling trails; including one in Westmeath between Athlone and Ballinahown, one linking up the Grand Canal Greenway and Mount Lucas, and another across West Offaly linking up Clonmacnoise, Ballinahown and Lough Boora.
This is a wonderful opportunity to link up a variety of villages and attractions with a bigger town and accommodation base such as Athlone, with the potential for Birr and Tullamore to be properly connected in due course as well.
It’s only by scaling up our ambitions that we can truly create something unique and harness the special range of amenities and attractions that exist in this area. That’s why the important thing now is not just to welcome the delivery of this funding for the Clonmacnoise Visitor Centre, but also to make sure that this is backed up by a guarantee that the new trails will be extensive, fully connected, and built with users in mind – not just filling up the space that happens to be left over and is most convenient for Bord na Móna.
The funding that was made available to the OPW for the Clonmacnoise Visitor Centre was considerably larger than the next biggest allocation, which was over €3.2 million for various enhancements of Athlone Castle.
Further projects that are still in the evaluation pipeline are expected to be announced in the coming weeks and months. Projects span three development categories, including feasibility and masterplans; product design and planning; and delivery and construction.
Fáilte Ireland also announced the inclusion of up to 85 tourism enterprises in its EU Just Transition Digital Transformation Programme, which is valued at up to €5.5million. A funding scheme for Private and Community SMEs to provide new and enhanced visitor experiences and low-carbon tourist accommodation remains open for applications until 30th June 2024, and announcements will be made on these awards later in the year.