The new Dunbrody Famine Ship experience, in New Ross, County Wexford, tells the story of Irish emigration and the impact of the Great Famine. The new educational tourist attraction is expected to generate €9m and support 36 jobs in first 10 years.
The new Dunbrody Famine Ship visitor experience in New Ross, County Wexford was officially launched by Taoiseach (Irish leader) Simon Harris. This enhanced visitor experience follows an investment of €1.6 million from the Irish government's Department of Rural and Community Development, Fáilte Ireland, and Wexford County Council.
The upgraded experience tells the famine emigrant story, centred on a reproduction of an 1840s vessel that set sail for America during the Great Famine. The new immersive visitor experience uses a mix of digital interpretation and archive material, such as personal letters and records from the time, to bring to life one of the most pivotal events in Irish history, helping visitors to connect with the human stories of those who journeyed across the Atlantic.
Fáilte Ireland estimates that over a ten-year period, the Dunbrody Famine Ship experience has the potential to attract over 211,000 additional local, domestic and overseas visitors, generating over €9 million in visitor expenditure for the local economy and supporting 36 jobs.
Speaking ahead of the launch, Taoiseach Simon Harris said "The €1.6 million investment in this immersive experience not only helps to preserve the memory of the Great Famine but also strengthens our cultural heritage and local tourism economy. The Dunbrody Famine Ship experience will connect visitors with the human stories that shaped our past, while generating jobs and supporting the future prosperity of New Ross and the wider Wexford region."
The Dunbrody Famine Ship has long been a popular visitor attraction for both domestic and international tourists in Ireland’s Ancient East. The new enhanced visitor experience offering ‘The Emigrant Trail’ received €880,000 in capital funding from the Rural Regeneration Development Fund, €295,000 in funding from Fáilte Ireland and €425,000 in funding from Wexford County Council.
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Paul Kelly, CEO of Fáilte Ireland said: “Investing in standout attractions and unique experiences is a key element of attracting international visitors to Ireland and encouraging domestic tourists to explore different areas of the country."
Seán Connick, CEO of the JFK Trust, which manages the Dunbrody Famine Ship, said: "The enhanced exhibition and immersive experience will help to position us as a must-see destination in Ireland's Ancient East, significantly raising our profile internationally."
He continued "This project is a great example of the successful collaboration between government agencies, the local authority, Fáilte Ireland and the John F. Kennedy Trust in developing New Ross as a Tourism Destination Town which will boost the economic potential for the town, create job opportunities and enhance the Tourism offering in the South East.”
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