Minister Donohoe Announces €1.75m in Fáilte Ireland Grant Funding for Dublin Visitor Attractions

Minister Donohoe Announces €1.75m in Fáilte Ireland Grant Funding for Dublin Visitor Attractions

Fáilte Ireland investment to turn Dublin’s Surprising Stories into memorable experiences


Fáilte Ireland has today (Tuesday,26th March) announced investment of just over €1.75 million through its ‘Dublin’s Surprising Stories Grants Scheme’ to 11 Dublin visitor attractions. The announcement was made at Glasnevin Cemetery Museum by the Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform, Paschal Donohoe T.D. Successful applicants include Glasnevin Cemetery Museum, the GAA Museum at Croke Park, EPIC - The Irish Emigration Museum, Newbridge House & Farm and Clondalkin Round Tower.

The funding is part of Fáilte Ireland’s strategy to ensure continued growth and sustainability in the tourism industry and to support the development of world-class visitor attractions in the Dublin region. The investment will be used for the improvement of physical interpretation such as foreign language provision, video, interpretive panels and interactive technology, and is also designed to encourage attractions to extend the opening hours.

Minister Paschal Donohoe said:

“Today’s significant announcement of grant funding is a vote of confidence in Dublin’s booming tourism sector with an estimated 6.4 million overseas visitors visiting the capital last year. Tourism is a vital element of our national economy with visitors generating an estimated €2.2 billion in overseas revenue and supporting 68,000 jobs in Dublin alone. This funding will ensure that visitors experience the very best of what our capital city has to offer with enhanced attractions and visitor experiences and I am delighted to note that Glasnevin Cemetery Museum, the Custom House, the GAA Museum at Croke Park and EPIC - The Irish Emigration Museum are among the successful applicants, reinforcing the important role that tourism plays throughout Dublin Central.”

Paul Kelly, Fáilte Ireland Chief Executive said:

“Dublin, like Fáilte Ireland’s other experience brands, is constantly evolving and we know that the modern tourist wants a more interactive and accessible experience.  Our Dublin’s Surprising Stories Grant Scheme is all about bringing the great stories of Dublin and its people to life in a way that creates a genuine interest and unforgettable experience for the visitor. New emerging technology can break down language barriers and create new ways for visitors to enjoy history and heritage and experience immersive, engaging and interactive experiences. Fáilte Ireland’s funding announcement will ensure that visitor attractions in Dublin continue to be at the forefront of providing brilliant and innovative visitor experiences in a truly accessible way.”

The total grant fund figure is €1,775,330 and the 11 successful visitor attractions awarded funding are:

• Christ Church Cathedral       €195,000 
• South Dublin County Council (Clondalkin Round Tower)  €51,000
• Croke Park GAA Museum       €138,750  
• Dublinia         €200,000 
• EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum      €162,318  
• Glasnevin Cemetery Museum      €200,000  
• Irish Whiskey Museum       €200,000
• Newbridge House & Farm       €107,625 
• St Patrick's Cathedral       €120,637
• The Custom House       €200,000 
• Teeling Whiskey Distillery       €200,000


Details on the funding and planned development works are as follows:

Christ Church Cathedral   €195,000  
The funding will be used to introduce new interpretative elements across the Christ Church site, encompassing both the inside and the outside (including the labyrinth and viewing platform) of the cathedral. This will include a multi-layered audio-guide, which will be available in 6 languages, an augmented reality map to bring the cathedral grounds to life and will offer new family friendly and immersive activities in the crypt including a dress-up area.

Clondalkin Round Tower   €51,000  
The funding will be used by South Dublin County Council to develop stories about monastic life and the Round Towers of Ireland with the development of multi-lingual audio tours in English, Irish, German, Polish and Spanish. Interpretation in the garden will be improved by introducing signage to inform visitors what plants and herbs were used within monastic life. A heated outdoor area will also offer a multipurpose space for both the local community and visitors alike.

Croke Park GAA Museum €138,750 
With the funding, it is planned to upgrade and significantly improve the introductory exhibit and the starting point for the exhibition/museum experience and the adjoining permanent exhibition gallery, which documents the origins, history and development of the GAA. Language provision will be provided for key target audiences to make the museum more accessible and appealing to overseas visitors.

Dublinia   €200,000 
The History Hunters exhibition will be redesigned to deliver more technology-based interpretation, increased language accessibility, enhanced interaction and more focus on the artefacts on loan from the National Museum and their stories. The redesign will include a temporary exhibition/events space and a lecture theatre to drive numbers in low season. Dublinia also plan to create a virtual reality experience letting visitors experience a medieval merchant's journey around medieval Dublin.

EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum €162,318 
The funding will be used to raise the levels of engagement for children and families and for non-English speakers. An inter-generational layer that guides and entertains visitors through the galleries will be developed to allow participants to ‘follow in the footsteps’ of real emigrants and learn more about Irish culture and history. It will incorporate interactivity, gamification and discovery trails, and unlock memorable stories, inviting visitors of all ages to interact and explore key characters and themes. International visitors will be able to select their own language and content will be designed to encourage visitors to explore the docklands and nearby attractions.

Glasnevin Cemetery Museum €200,000  
The funding will be used to transform the visitor centre into a more attractive, welcoming and dynamic mix of indoor and outdoor experiences. Glasnevin Cemetery will also develop a range of new tours and add multi-lingual resources; a larger reception area, a new interactive pre-tour & post-tour experience space, and a new education & events area will support these.

Irish Whiskey Museum, College Green   €200,000 
This project will improve the interpretation at the entranceway to provide the impression that the alleyway is part of the customer journey, with characters from the Irish Whiskey world guiding visitors to the main museum. AVs will be upgraded to 360-degree screens to offer an immersive experience for overseas visitors. Audio guides will be updated alongside a shareable photo opportunity at the end of the tour to promote Dublin and the museum. 

Newbridge House & Farm   €107,625 
New interpretation and storytelling will bring to life the stories of one of the few fully intact 18th century Georgian houses in Dublin open to the public. The funding will be used to bring Georgian Dublin history to life for visitors. The Butlers Dining Hall and the Servants Dining Hall will be redeveloped with works including new interpretation, new stories delivering a new visitor experience to run concurrently with guided house tours.

St Patrick's Cathedral €120,637 
The funding is aimed at providing overseas visitors with access to the great stories St. Patrick’s Cathedral has to offer and to link it with several other key locations and visitor attractions in Dublin such as the Guinness family and the Storehouse. Audio-guides will be introduced that will be free of charge to the visitor and will be available in 4 languages. 

The Custom House    €200,000 
Funding will be used to reinvent the visitor experience at the Custom House with every current exhibit replaced and new subject matter covered. It will establish the Custom House as a must-see visitor attraction. May 2021 will be the 100th anniversary of the burning of the Custom House; a seminal event of the War of Independence and a key focal point for the State's centenary commemorations.

Teeling Whiskey Distillery  €200,000 
The funding will be used to develop an app primarily to enhance foreign language offerings through an audio guide. The overall visitor experience will be enhanced through the expansion and addition of multimedia content making the experience much more interactive and engaging for non-English speaking visitors. It will also include the redevelopment of the maturation space of the visitor centre to incorporate sensory and interactive elements.


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