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Closed: Shared Island Coast-to-Coast Capital Investment Scheme 2024

This fund provided capital investment for visitor attractions along the Wild Atlantic Way and the Causeway Coastal Route. It was a collaboration between Fáilte Ireland, Tourism Northern Ireland and Tourism Ireland, funded through the Shared Island Fund.

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Application statusClosed
Key informationCapital investment to enhance visitor experiences on two iconic coastal routes.
CommitmentIt required a two-stage application process with matched funding.
Value of support€50,000 to €300,000 (Ireland)/£40,000–£250,000 (Northern Ireland)
State aidApplicableWhat is this?
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How the scheme supported visitor attractions

  • A shared investment schemeThe scheme brought together Fáilte Ireland, Tourism Northern Ireland, and Tourism Ireland to fund improvements at existing visitor attractions.
  • Focused on two coastal routesBacked by the Government of Ireland’s Shared Island Fund, it targeted attractions along two of Ireland’s iconic routes: the Wild Atlantic Way and the Causeway Coastal Route.
  • Improving the visitor journeyThe scheme helped attractions improve visitor journeys across both routes, connecting coastal experiences from the west of Ireland to Northern Ireland.

What did the scheme fund?

Existing attractions only

The scheme funded capital projects at existing, operating attractions. It did not fund new builds.

Visitor experience improvements

Projects had to improve the visitor experience through storytelling, interpretation, immersive experiences, innovation, multilingual content, or seasonal and spend growth.

Geographic scope of the scheme

The scheme was open to applicants in both Ireland and Northern Ireland.

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Eligible areas covered Donegal, Sligo and parts of Leitrim.

Eligible areas included Derry City and Strabane District Council, Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, and Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council.

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How much funding was available?

  • Funding in Ireland
    Grants of between €50,000 and €300,000 were available for eligible projects in Ireland.
  • Funding in Northern Ireland
    Grants of between £40,000 and £250,000 were available for eligible projects in Northern Ireland.
  • Total fund
    The total fund was €3 million, with €1.5 million available for Ireland and £1.25 million available for Northern Ireland.
  • Matched funding
    All funding was subject to a matched funding requirement. Applicants had to cover at least 20% of eligible project costs.

    Who was eligible?

    The scheme was open to public, private and community organisations operating existing visitor attractions in eligible target areas. New businesses and new-build projects did not qualify. Attractions had to be established and operating within the geographic eligibility areas defined in the scheme guidelines.

      How the two-stage application process worked

      • Stage 1
        Applicants submitted an Expression of Interest to show they and their project met the scheme criteria before progressing to Stage 2.
      • Stage 2
        Invited applicants submitted a full Application Form with supporting evidence, including match funding, working capital, and project site rights.