CLARE Fianna Fáil TD Cathal Crowe is calling for “strong commitment” from all sides to keep the iconic Shannon Heritage sites open for the remainder of this year. He says that he will seek financial input from government, which Shannon Group say is necessary to keep the Shannon Heritage sites operational.
COVID-19 has seen the rug effectively pulled from the 2020 tourism season, leaving many with an uncertain future, including Shannon Heritage.
A figure of €4m is needed from government to keep the sites, which include Bunratty Castle and Folk Park and King John’s Castle, open into the autumn and winter.
“I was among a strong crowd at Shannon Airport on Monday, taking part in a rally calling for Shannon Heritage sites to remain open year-round,” said Deputy Crowe.
“There are dozens of people in this county whose jobs will be lost if this is not the case, not to mention the countless B&Bs and pubs and cafés and restaurants that rely on the trade brought in by the likes of Bunratty Castle. Shannon Group has made a financial demand to keep their sites open and I’ll be going to the government with that figure, working with my Oireachtas colleagues who were also in attendance at the rally today. It’s become very apparent to me by speaking to Shannon Heritage workers and those in the tourism sector that there are operational shortcomings in the sites, such as how they are marketed and promoted and how capital is reinvested in the sites.
A native of Ennis, Colin McGann has been editor of The Clare Champion since August 2020. Former editor of The Clare People, he is a journalism and communications graduate of Dublin Institute of Technology.