A broad welcome has been given to the announcement of almost seven million euro in funding for five tourism-related projects in Clare.
Projects in Lahinch, Loop Head, Kilrush, Doolin and Holy Island are to benefit from the funding announced under the Government’s Rural Regeneration and Development Fund.
62 million euro in total has been announced for Rural Regeneration Projects across the country, with 6.8 million of that coming to Clare.
1.7 million will go towards the renovation of the stables in the Vandeleur Walled Gardens, Kilrush, while almost 870,000 will go towards the enhancement of the Loop Head Lighthouse visitor experience.
The largest allocation in this county is for works in Lahinch Town and at Lahinch Seaworld to the tune of 2.86 million euro.
Manager of Lahinch Seaworld, Fine Gael Local Election Candidate Joe Garrihy says the investment not only benefits the North Clare village, but the region as a whole.
The funding scheme also sees more funding to bring other projects closer to the stage where they’ll be ready for construction.
More than 465,500 has been allocated for a masterplan to develop a new visitor and tourist centre at Doolin Pier, while another 920,000 euro has been earmarked for preparatory works, surveys, and detailed designs for the development of a new visitors centre in Mountshannon, and associated works at Holy Island.
Eoin O’Hagan from East Clare Tourism says it’s another positive step in efforts to boost tourism numbers in that part of the county.
