Further €1m in Funding for ‘Ireland’s Ancient East’ including €145,765 for Three projects in the N. East/N. West
14th December 2015
The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Paschal Donohoe TD, along with Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Michael Ring TD, today announced over €1m in a further phase of funding for capital projects in Ireland’s Ancient East including €145,765 for projects in Cavan, Lough and Monaghan. The funding is being made through Fáilte Ireland’s ‘New Ideas in Ancient Spaces’ Capital Grants Scheme and is for a further 13 projects within the Ireland’s Ancient East initiative. This second phase of investment brings the total funding under the ‘New Ideas in Ancient Spaces’ initiative to €2.26m and comes ahead of a new signage scheme to brand the region which is due to be rolled out in 2016.
This funding under the ‘New Ideas in Ancient Spaces’ Capital Grants Scheme follows a Fáilte Ireland call for applications from interested parties across the region. A further phase of funding in capital supports for the initiative is expected in 2016.
Launched last April, Ireland’s Ancient East is Fáilte Ireland’s latest tourism initiative and seeks to build on the wealth of historical and cultural assets in the east and south of Ireland. The new initiative seeks to give visitors a personal experience of 5,000 years of Irish history through a journey of discovery in a lush green landscape with stories told by the best storytellers in the world. Ireland’s Ancient East stretches from Carlingford to Cork and is intended to match and complement the Wild Atlantic Way in terms of scale and ambition.
Commenting on this further phase of capital funding for the project, Minister Donohoe today said:
“I am delighted to announce a further round of funding for ‘Ireland’s Ancient East’ and to ensure we maintain the momentum of this initiative and build on the impressive tourism assets we have in the east and south of the country. As this project evolves and grows, I am confident that it will be a perfect complement to the Wild Atlantic way in the west and that it will generate significant additional visitors, revenue and tourism jobs in the east.”
Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Michael Ring TD, said:
“At the end of the day, beyond all the marketing and advertising, the test of a holiday destination is the experience on the ground. We know that there are great experiences to be had based on our heritage and past but that we can do more to bring these to life. These projects today will incrementally boost the appeal of Ireland’s Ancient East and will deliver memorable experiences to those who come to explore the region”.
Projects in the North East/North West receiving funding are:
- Castle Saunderson, Co Cavan - €60,175
- Louth Adventures, Co Louth - €50,590
- Glaslough Heritage Trail, Co Monaghan - €35,000
Further details of these projects are below.
Fáilte Ireland Director of Business Development, Paul Keeley, today emphasised:
“We in Fáilte Ireland are working directly with businesses and communities on the ground to turn the promise of the ‘Ireland’s Ancient East’ brand into a reality. By the end of the year, we will have helped to jump-start or augment projects within Ireland’s Ancient East and will have readied the region to deliver first class experiences to visitors during summer 2016.”
This funding comes as Fáilte Ireland prepares to install approximately 100 Ireland’s Ancient East orientation signs and 300 county boundary signs across the region in 2016. This new signage scheme will encourage visitors to explore Ireland’s Ancient East by making them aware of the wide range of things to see and across the area.
Castle Saunderson, Co Cavan
This project proposes to enhance the ‘on the ground’ visitor experience and present the story of Castle Saunderson through the ages. This will be achieved through the development of a new ‘easy to explore’ heritage trail - The Castle Trail – and further development of the existing trails.
Through interpretative displays, visual art and written interpretation, the story will imaginatively portray the dramatic history and transition of this place as part of Ireland’s Ancient East from free land, through conflict, plantation and the divisive advent of Unionism and the Orange Order to the peaceful coexistence of the present day.
Louth Adventures, Co Louth
Louth Adventures plan to provide unique, on-water, guided tours of Carlingford Lough and will tell the stories and legends unique to the area such as Táin Bo Cuailnge, Cuchulainn and Queen Medb. These new guided Historical Sea Tours of Carlingford Lough will take in sites such as King Johns Castle, Greencastle and Narrow Water Castle.
In addition to providing the craft and related safety equipment, this plan will include the provision of interpretation through augmented reality story-boards which will enhance the visitor experience and understanding of the area’s rich heritage.
Glaslough Heritage Trail, Co Monaghan
The project involves the development of an audio walking trail and app, with associated interpretative signage in Glaslough, which will include a comprehensive range of sites of interest in the village and surrounding area and a number of locally researched stories which link directly to these sites.
The content will be casual conversation style and format and will include heritage, myths and legends, 'did you knows' and general tourist information. The trail will tie in with the local asset that is Castle Leslie - one of the best examples of a working estate and an estate village in Ireland.
