Craggaunowen is set to undergo a significant upgrade this year.
Clare County Council has announced a 1 million euro investment in the popular East Clare visitor attraction, which reopens to the public for the 2024 season on St. Patrick’s Day.
Over fifteen thousand visitors descended on Craggaunowen in 2023, but it’s expected that numbers will exceed 20,000 this year and 30,000 in 2025.
Centred around a 16th century castle, the 20-acre site in East Clare recreates what life would have been like for the Bronze Age inhabitants of Ireland.
Amongst the works earmarked for completion this year is the upgrade of Craggaunowen’s signature crannógs and woven hut lake dwellings, along with the bridge that connects them to the remainder of the site.
A new playground themed on St. Brendan’s Voyage will be developed, while significant upgrades to the public carpark, public toilet facilities, fencing and pathways will be carried out.
Other developments include the installation of wayfinding signage throughout the site and an audio-visual experience to complement the ‘Brendan Boat’.
The management of Shannon Heritage Sites was transferred from the Shannon Airport Group to Clare County Council last May.
Since then, the local authority has invested more than €4m in Bunratty Castle and Folk Park, Craggaunowen, Knappogue Castle and the retail unit at the Cliffs of Moher.
€2.9m has been invested in upgrading the Vandeleur Walled Garden and Visitor Centre in Kilrush.
While an additional €7.8m has been earmarked for investment this year in the Council owned portfolio of attractions, including Inis Cealtra – the Holy Island Visitor Experience in Mountshannon, the Cliffs of Moher Experience and Loop Head Lighthouse.
