The Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport, Mary Hanafin TD announced details of €6.6m worth of funding allocated under Fáilte Ireland’s Tourism Capital Investment Programme. The funding is divided amongst three projects across the country: the Dublin Writers Museum, Lee Valley Project in Tralee, and the New Ross Quay Board Walk in Co Wexford.
Announcing the funding, Minister Hanafin said: “This is a significant investment in visitor attractions and a key part of our strategy to drive tourism across all the regions. The tourism industry continues to face a very difficult international economic climate and the Government, in partnership with the industry, is helping to meet this challenge through the provision of significant additional tourism capital funding this year.” The projects announced were approved by the Fáilte Ireland Authority, subject to being able to comply with a number of specific requirements of Fáilte Ireland prior to the signing of a grant contract.
Dublin Writers Museum
Over €2.2m has been assigned for the refurbishment of the Dublin Writers Museum on Parnell Square and it is seen as central to the future development of a cultural cluster in the area. The Square is already the location of the Hugh Lane Gallery, the Garden of Remembrance, the Gate Theatre, and the Ambassador Theatre, which are housed on three of its four sides.
It is hoped that improving the attraction of this quarter will extend the tourism footprint and bring much needed economic activity to the North Inner City. The Museum has a history of attracting high numbers of international visitors, which is attributed to the worldwide interest in Irish writers, such as Joyce, Wilde and Shaw.