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Tag Archives: Shannon Heritage

Teenage takeover of Ennis this Sunday!

TEENAGERS are taking over the town of Ennis this Sunday for Discover Ennis Heritage Day. The free event this Sunday, April 3, has been organised by the Transition Year students of St Flannan’s College and Gaelcholáiste an Chláir in collaboration with Experience Ennis and Shannon Heritage. From 1pm to 5pm the town locals and visitors to the town will have the opportunity to experience an afternoon jam-packed with activities and live entertainment. Heritage activities will include historical reconstructions of spinning wool, churning butter, iron-age weaponry and strawcrafts. There will also be plenty of live entertainment including trad music, Irish dancing, face painting, and lots lots more.  Free student-led walking tours will leave the Chapel Lane Market Building on the hour from 1pm to 4pm. At 4pm in the Chapel Lane Market Building there will be story-telling for adults and children (over seven years of age) by the world-renowned seanchaí, Eddie Lenihan. This collaboration between the Transition Year students of St Flannan’s College and Gaelcholáiste an Chláir is …

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Anger at dismissive taoiseach persists in Clare County Council

AN impatient response given by the Taoiseach when asked about the transfer of Shannon Heritage was criticised at Monday’s meeting of Clare County Council, with members of Fianna Fáil as critical of the Taoiseach as anyone. Some weeks ago Mr Martin told the Dáil that Clare County Council “should get on with it” regarding taking over the Shannon Heritage tourist attractions, comments that were very unfavourably received in Clare. At the March meeting Councillor PJ Ryan put forward a motion asking that the Council would seek a meeting between the Taoiseach and Council CEO Pat Dowling, to discuss the financial implications of the proposed transfer. Councillor Ryan said the staff of Shannon Heritage are anxious about the situation. He also said that financial support is required for the take over, and that it will be profitable, but that could take some time. In the Dáil, the Taoiseach had compared the proposed take over with Cork County Council taking over Spike …

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Bunratty Castle to reopen fully in April

BUNRATTY Castle & Folk Park will be open full time next month, Minister of State Hildegarde Naughton has told the Dáil. The Galway TD was responding to questions from Deputy Cathal Crowe about the fate of Shannon Heritage sites. “I understand that Bunratty Castle and King John’s Castle are currently open on a four-day-week basis until March 2022. “I am pleased to advise the Deputy that it is envisaged that those sites will reopen fully in April. “I am also happy to report that, as the public health restrictions put in place due to Covid were eased in the second half of 2021, visitor numbers to Shannon Heritage sites have increased. “With the removal of all the restrictions and the return of transatlantic flights into Shannon Airport this month, I am confident that visitor numbers to the sites will continue to grow.” Minister Naughton also relayed the fact that the OPW has agreed to re-engage on its maintenance responsibilities and …

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Taoiseach non-committal on Clare tourist site subvention

WHILE Clare County Council CEO Pat Dowling last week said that he couldn’t leave the local authority exposed by taking on the Shannon Heritage sites in Clare (including Bunratty Castle) without due diligence, the Taoiseach has said they should not hang around. A report presented to county councillors said that the Council couldn’t go ahead until a national funding package was provided to it, and in the Dáil Clare TD Cathal Crowe asked his party leader to help provide such a package. “Last June, Cabinet signed off on a proposal to transfer Shannon Heritage sites to local authorities. “Clare County Council is currently undertaking due diligence on the transfer of Bunratty Castle and Folk Park, Knappogue Castle, Craggaunowen and a retail outlet at the Cliffs of Moher. “The due diligence is extensive but it has thrown up the matter of the incredible costs involved in taking over these sites.  “The thatch is falling off the roofs in Bunratty, as I …

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CEO: ‘I will not leave Clare County Council exposed’

CLARE County Council won’t be taking over the Shannon Heritage sites in the county until a funding package is put in place to support it. That was the message contained in a report provided to councillors at their meeting on Monday. Councillor Alan O’Callaghan had asked for an update on the expected transfer. He noted that staff have been “in limbo” for some time now, while he said repairs and improvements are required at some of the sites.  Responding CEO Pat Dowling said that the Council has put a lot of emphasis on the transfer, and there have been meetings with the staff on two occasions. He said that it is crucial that the appropriate level of due diligence takes place. “I will not and cannot expose Clare County Council to any unforeseen expenditure.” Further detail to Mr O’Callaghan’s query regarding this due diligence was provided in a response from Director of Rural Development Leonard Cleary. “Clare County Council and …

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Council wants €3m annually to take on Shannon Heritage sites

CLARE County Council is seeking an annual €3 million subvention for capital works to fund planned maintenance and upgrading of local Shannon Heritage sites, writes Dan Danaher. This was revealed at a briefing meeting involving senior council officials and Clare Oireachtas members on Friday. It is understood this is one of the authority’s key requirements before it will agree to the transfer of these key tourist attractions from the Shannon Group. The proposed grant, which will be subject to government approval, is being sought for about three years in view of the apparent deterioration in the condition of some of the Shannon Heritage attractions in the county. This would also help the council to cover some of the operational overheads to manage Bunratty Castle, Knappogue Castle and Craggaunowen. Deputy Michael McNamara said work is required to repair the roof on Bunratty Castle. Even though a lot of money was spent on improving the Walled Garden in Knappogue Castle a few …

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Taoiseach to Clare County Council: ‘Get on with it’

TAOISEACH Micheál Martin has come under fire after an impatient response when quizzed about the future transfer of Shannon Heritage properties to Clare County Council. Responding to questions from Deputy Michael McNamara, the Taoiseach said if the council wanted to take over the sites, they should just get on with it. A due diligence process regarding the transfer of the assets, (including Bunratty Castle, Knappogue Castle and Craggaunowen) began last summer, but with the 2022 tourist season approaching, it still has not been concluded. It is understood that Clare County Council is looking for a commitment that it will receive around €9 million in capital funding over a few years if it takes over the assets, with significant improvement and maintenance works set to be required in the coming years. Clare TD Michael McNamara raised the future of sites with the Taoiseach on Tuesday, asking him for a commitment to provide Clare County Council with the backing it needs. “I …

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Shannon Heritage posts loss of €3 million

SHANNON Heritage made a loss of over €3 million in 2020, according to a newly filed financial statement. The business review section of the document noted that effect of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 and its impact on tourism. It stated that the pandemic led to the closure of “significant elements of the company’s business at various times in 2020” and has had a significant and ongoing negative impact on inbound international tourism. The review stated, “In March, following the imposition of Government restrictions, all sites were closed and since then business operations and the opening of the company’s attractions continues to be dictated by the prevailing Government advice. “All banqueting activity ceased in March and has not recommenced since then and the timing of the return of banqueting activities remains uncertain. “Two of our seasonal day visitor sites, Dunguaire and Craggaunowen did not open in 2020.” It noted that since March, the company has had substantial staff numbers on …

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