The OPW has recorded a 37% jump in visitor numbers to Ennis Friary.
The Office of Public Works has today announced 2023 was another successful year for visitor numbers at its heritage sites across the country.
Footfall to Scattery Island has continued to decline, however.
The Office of Public Works is responsible for caring, maintaining and operating 780 important heritage sites across the country.
It conserves and protects the nation’s built heritage, while providing public access, interpretation and encouraging the public to visit and engage with it.
The 2023 data, which has just been published, highlights a continued trend in number of visitors to Historic Castles, Gardens and Monuments across the country.
15,181 people visited the 13th Century Franciscan Friary in Ennis last year, a 37% jump on the 2022 figure of 11,032 and more than double the figure of 6,058 recorded two years prior to that.
Scattery Island continued to see a decline in visitor numbers in 2023 though.
4,713 visitors descended on the 6th centuary monastic settlement near Kilrush, 45 fewer than tthe 2022 figure and 1,391 fewer than 2021.
Nationally, the number of recorded visitors to heritage sites last year exceeded 15.3 million, up from 15 million in 2022.
Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW, Patrick O’Donovan says the data clearly indicates a strong interest in heritage tourism and that “an increasing number of visitors regard Ireland’s heritage sites as great places to visit”.
