Fáilte Ireland and Údarás na Gaeltachta 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.
These projects are spearheaded by Údarás na Gaeltachta in partnership with comharchumainn (community cooperatives), Comharchumann Forbartha Árann Teo in Co Galway and Comharchumann Chléire Teo 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 from the strategic partnership between Fáilte Ireland and Údarás na Gaeltachta which aims to make Gaeltacht experiences appealing, accessible and relevant to visitors. Through this formal agreement, the organisations 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 totalling over €3m 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 centre will provide visitors with a deeper understanding of the island’s unique history, traditions, and natural environment through cutting-edge interactive exhibits and storytelling. 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 centre 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 €1m 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 centred 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. By enhancing visitor dwell times and potentially encouraging overnight stays, the centre will serve as a significant economic asset while preserving the island’s rich cultural heritage. Modern facilities, outdoor spaces, bicycle parking, covered seating, and adjacent toilet facilities are part of the upgraded building’s amenities.
Minister for Tourism Catherine Martin said: “I am delighted to announce funding for two transformative tourism projects on the Islands of Árainn (Inis Mór) in Co. Galway and Cléire (Cape Clear) in Co. Cork. These initiatives, led by Údarás na Gaeltachta in collaboration with local comharchumainn, will be fantastic additions to the visitor offering along the Wild Atlantic Way. 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: “Fáilte Ireland is committed to and focused on the sustainable development of tourism across Ireland which is an important economic driver and source of employment. 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.”
“These development projects will be vital in helping to extend the tourism season beyond the traditional summer months across both islands, increasing dwell time, promoting visitation in all weather and encouraging overnight stays. Fáilte Ireland estimates that these projects combined will drive almost €50million in visitor spend for the regions over next 10 years.”
Tomás Ó Siocháin, CEO of Údarás na Gaeltachta, added: “These significant investments in Árainn and Cléire represent a pivotal moment for island tourism in Ireland. By creating immersive, state-of-the-art visitor experiences that showcase our rich Gaeltacht heritage, we are not only preserving our unique culture and language but also creating sustainable economic opportunities for our island communities. 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.”
