Laois Heritage Trails receives €84,804 in capital funding as part of Ireland's Ancient East
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 €84,804 for Laois Heritage Trails. 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”.
Laois Heritage Trails, County Laois
This project will provide high quality, accessible and interesting interpretative material to engage overseas visitors pre-trip while planning their holiday and also while they are in Ireland’s Ancient East. The material will encourage them to explore the wide range of history and heritage which is available in Co Laois and beyond. It will include Audio Guides and PDF guides in French, German, Spanish, Italian and Mandarin to the Laois Heritage trail and Laois Gardens trail as well as audio-visual presentations in Donaghmore Workhouse and Timahoe Round Tower about Monastic and 19th Century Laois. A Laois Heritage App which will incorporate all the above material and be available in all 5 languages mentioned above.
Related News:
Initial Funding for ‘Ireland’s Ancient East’ including €225,000 for three projects in the Midlands
