New developments are expected to extend the typical visitor stay across both sites, driving almost € 50 million in visitor spending for the regions over the next 10 years.
Fáilte Ireland, the the National Tourism Development Authority, and Údarás na Gaeltachta, a regional state agency which is responsible for the economic, social and cultural development of Irish-speaking regions of Ireland, have announced capital investment funding to support two major tourism development projects on the islands of Árainn (Inis Mór) in Co. Galway and Cléire (Cape Clear) in Co. Cork.
The projects aim to enhance both the community fabric of the islands, while also improving the visitor experience, extending the islands’ tourism season, and providing significant economic and cultural benefits to the local communities.
The capital investment in these island tourism projects is just one of the outputs that aims to make Gaeltacht experiences appealing, accessible and relevant to visitors. Through this formal agreement, the organizations are actively collaborating across a number of priority areas for tourism development including capital projects, building capacity within the tourism industry and supporting the development of tourism products to showcase the unique cultural offering of Ireland’s Gaeltacht regions.
Capital investment funding totaling over €3 million has been allocated to the Árainn – Place of Stone Visitor Centre, which will be located in the former Aran Islands Heritage Centre in Cill Rónáin, Inis Mór, Co. Galway. This project will create an immersive visitor attraction that celebrates the rich Irish language and cultural heritage of the island. The new center will provide visitors with a deeper understanding of the island’s unique history, traditions, and natural environment through cutting-edge interactive exhibits and storytelling.
An aerial via of Inis Mor, off Galway.
The Place of Stone Visitor Centre will also deliver vital infrastructure such as a café, visitor orientation area and changing facilities which will help increase both visitor spend and dwell time from existing visitors and an overall extension of the traditional tourism season on the island. The center is also expected to become a cultural hub for both locals and tourists alike, offering year-round programming and events that reflect the vibrancy of the island community.
The Cape Clear Fastnet Experience and Heritage Centre has been allocated over €1 million in capital investment funding to significantly upgrade and develop the current visitor attraction, creating a new innovative visitor attraction that will offer augmented reality and 3D experiences centered around Fastnet Lighthouse. Additionally, the project involves relocating and interpreting the existing collection of heritage artifacts from the existing Cape Clear museum to tell the story of the island’s ancient past, as well as its maritime heritage.
Cape Clear, County Cork.
Minister for Tourism Catherine Martin TD said: "Both of these new visitor attractions will help to preserve and showcase the islands’ heritage, language and culture in imaginative multi-media experiences that will create long-lasting, memorable experiences for visitors."
Paul Kelly CEO at Fáilte Ireland said: “This funding not only represents a much-needed investment in the tourism infrastructure of both Islands, but also strikes a balance in developing visitor facilities that will also benefit the Island communities throughout the year."
He added, "Fáilte Ireland estimates that these projects combined will drive almost € 50 million in visitor spend for the regions over the next 10 years.”
Tomás Ó Siocháin, CEO of Údarás na Gaeltachta, added: "These projects embody our commitment to balancing tourism development with community needs, ensuring that our islands remain vibrant, living Gaeltacht areas for generations to come."
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