Tourism Schemes Shortlisted For €65m Announced
Fáilte Ireland has published the list of 24 projects selected to proceed to stage two of its Grants Scheme for Large Tourism Projects. This is the first call under the scheme, which provides a pool of €65 million for investment to develop new, or boost existing, tourism experiences and attractions across Ireland. Under the scheme, capital grants in excess of €200,000 and up to a maximum of €5 million will be available.
The scheme, which runs up to 2020, received 115 applications as part of its first call from the public, private and voluntary sectors including community groups. These were stage one applications, meaning that applicants had to provide an outline of their project, rather than detailed design. Each project has up to 18 months to submit a stage two application for their project, upon which a final decision on funding will be made.
The 24 selected projects are:
Port of Cork’s multi-functional marine, sport and tourism hub in Cobh
Titanic Experience Cobh Ltd
Land of Legend – A Journey through the Irish Imagination, Slane, Co Meath
National Broadcasting Museum and Communications Futurelab, Athlone, Co Westmeath
Ballyhoura Mountain Bike Park Visitor Centre
The Glaslough Gateway – A Heritage Hub
Town Hall Hub at the Tholsel, Kilkenny
The Story of Drogheda – Bridging the Ford (Tholsel Phase II).
Granard Motte, Co Longford
Irish Horse Museum, National Stud, Co Kildare
The Butler Gallery, Kilkenny
Walsh Whiskey Distillery Visitor Centre at Holloden House and Demesne, Co Carlow
Strokestown Park and Irish National Famine Museum Improvement Plan, Roscommon
Strandhill Surfing Centre of Excellence, Co Sligo
Dursey Island Cable Car and Visitor Centre, Co Cork
Galway’s Cultural Tourism District
Bunratty Castle & Folk Park Project, Co Clare
Sligo Cultural Plaza Project with Lady Ann Walk
Kylemore Abbey, Connemara, Co Galway
Sligo Pontoon
Hazelwood House, Co Sligo
Dublin Mountains Visitors Centre
Little Museum of Dublin – Universal Access
The Vaults, John’s Lane West, Dublin 8
Pictured above: Bunratty Castle, Co Clare