Growing bed capacity vital for Offaly tourism

A critical focus of the future development of the county under the new Offaly Tourism Strategy 2023-2027 will be providing more accommodation in the county.

The new strategy states that a sustainable approach to growing bed capacity is required, with an eye to the development of non-mainstream forms of accommodation such as glamping, unique self-catering, Airbnb, small non-chain boutique hotels as well as camping and RV parks.

There is also potential to make more of the Grand Canal and River Shannon and the use of barges, cruisers and other boats that offer accommodation as well as recreation. Offaly has a lower level of tourism accommodation capacity than surrounding counties, with just over 1,000 beds registered in 2023, the majority of which is accounted for by six hotels.

Cllr John Carroll welcomed the strategy when it was unveiled at a recent Offaly County Council meeting but said that “the biggest and most challenging thing” would be to increase accommodation in the county.

“We know the value in tourism is holding your visitor in the area, but we haven’t the accommodation to keep numbers yet and to encourage people to invest.”

He also highlighted issues with night-time entertainment and said he hoped to see some funding for local festivals.

Cllr Sandy Feehan Smollen said that they have to encourage people to offer up beds.

“We also need to offer up people places where they can eat and see the sites.”

Cllr Noel Cribbin highlighted that there was an imbalance in the number of tourist attractions and amenities in North Offaly compared to other parts of the county. “Where I’m coming from in North Offaly it’s very unbalanced the way the tourism is.

“Birr has a castle, Banagher has the Shannon, Slieve Blooms, Clonmacnoise, the whole lot is down one end of the county.

He said that from Tullamore back to North Offaly there wasn't one hotel.

“That’s a third of the county that needs to be addressed.

There was a hotel in Edenderry many years ago. Something seriously has to be addressed, I don’t know how we go about doing it.”

Director of Services for Planning, Economic Development, Regeneration, Tourism, Heritage, Just Transition Andrew Murray said that there is a “bespoke fund of three million for encouraging low carbon accommodation”.

“East Offaly/North Offaly has been very quiet on the tourism front going back years, but I suppose the fact that we brought the Greenway through Edenderry now is a huge thing likely to bring footfall and wheel fall in the future.”

Consultant with CHL Consulting Ali Curran added that the hotels were important. “If you've nowhere to stay, then it's definitely going to put a limit on your time.”

“Some of the smaller support villages can benefit from visitors coming through those gateway towns, as we call them.

The bed nights equals overnight stays, equals dwell time equals more money,” Ms Curran said.

Councillors welcomed the new Offaly Tourism Strategy 2023-2027 which was unveiled at Offaly County Council.

It’s hoped this framework will unlock the tourism potential of the county.