Funding of over €8m for Offaly tourism "must be backed up" says Hackett
Offaly Minister of State Pippa Hackett said the allocation this week of €7.8 million to redevelop the visitor centre at Clonmacnoise "has the potential to completely transform the visitor experience" at the ancient monastic site.
However, she added that it must be "backed up by further supports, as well as a real commitment to go the extra mile from all stakeholders involved".
Yesterday (Wednesday), a total of more than €8.3m was allocated to Offaly projects under Fáilte Ireland's EU Just Transition Regenerative Tourism and Placemaking Scheme, with the lion's share of that money going to Clonmacnoise.
Three other smaller Offaly projects will share some €530,000 in funding.
They include a Shannonbridge Plaza and Shannon Callows Reserve Walkway, both in the Shannonbridge area, and a project described as Birr Destination Town Plus, which involves the delivery of enhanced paving at William Street, improving the linkages to the Castle Demesne and town centre.
Reacting to the funding announcement, Minister of State Hackett, who announced her candidacy for the leadership of the Green Party this week, said: "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."
She noted that the funding 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.