Tag Archives: John Ruddle

Shannon Heritage, Ireland’s largest operator of tourist attractions and part of Shannon Group plc, has announced a strong performance in the first three quarters of 2015 with visitors number at one of its flagship attractions, Bunratty Castle up by 14%. To the end of September 2015, key attractions in the Shannon Heritage portfolio showed an increase in visitor numbers. Bunratty Folk Park visits were up 14% on 2014, with King John’s Castle experiencing growth of 8%. In Dublin, the Shannon Heritage run Malahide Castle and Gardens saw a 15% increase in visits. Market research indicates that visitors from the US and Europe were up on 2014, whilst there was also significant increase in the amount of corporate events held in Shannon Heritage locations compared to last year. Speaking about the figures, Shannon Heritage CEO John Ruddle was delighted with the performance so far this year. “With 2014 having been the strongest year since 2007, the challenge was to keep the …

SHANNON Heritage has been appointed to operate and manage the €7 million GPO Witness History Interpretive Exhibition Centre. It’s a major coup for Shannon Heritage, which is part of the newly established Shannon Group, also encompassing Shannon Airport and Shannon Commercial Properties. It already operates attractions in Clare like Craggaunowen and Bunratty Castle and Folk Park. The contract was awarded following a competitive tender process, while the visitor centre is now under construction at the GPO. It is expected to attract up to 300,000 people a year following its opening at Easter 1916. Speaking about the contract award, Shannon Heritage CEO John Ruddle said, “Shannon Heritage is delighted to be involved with this nationally important project at the iconic GPO location. We have been managing visitor attractions for over 50 years and this new visitor attraction provides the company with a great opportunity to expand in the capital city and also play a vital role in the celebrations of the …

Shannon Heritage has announced that an 11% increase in visitor numbers was recorded in 2014, offering further evidence of a resurgence in local tourism and indeed in the domestic economy. Shannon Heritage employs more than 300 people during peak season and it operates seven daytime visitor attractions, including Bunratty Castle and Folk Park, Craggaunowen, Knappogue Castle and Walled Garden, Dunguaire Castle, the Brian Boru Heritage and Malahide Castle and Gardens. It also has another four evening attractions, with medieval banquets at Bunratty, Knappogue and Dunguaire Castle, as well as a traditional Irish night at Bunratty Folk Park. Overall, they drew 637,000 visitors last year, with the day attractions up by more than 13%, while there are said to have been particular gains from Britain, America and Europe. Indeed, last year was the company’s most successful in terms of visitor numbers since 2007. The single biggest success among the Shannon Heritage operations last year was at King John’s Castle in Limerick, …

MORE than 1,000 people are expected to flock to Bunratty and Sixmilebridge for the annual Shannonside Winter Music Festival and visitors to Bunratty Castle & Folk Park will be in for some special performances as part of the line-up. The castle and folk park will play host a number of events on Saturday, January 17, from 12noon to 5pm, giving its visitors a flavour of all that the international music event has to offer. Each year, the Winter Music Festival showcases a variety of music genres and has been growing year-on-year both in popularity and in the diversity of the acts. For the fourth year-in-a-row, Bunratty Castle and Folk Park will play host to the best of this year’s talent across five venues. The acts change every hour and perform a 45 minute set each. John Ruddle, CEO of Shannon Heritage, which manages and operates Bunratty Castle & Folk Park, said, “It never ceases to amaze me how, each year, …