Carlow Town to receive €500,000 injection to enhance Tourism Experience Offering

Carlow Town has been earmarked for significant funding by Fáilte Ireland to develop its tourism potential as part of the Destination Towns scheme, according to the tourist body.   

The funding will be allocated through Carlow County Council as part of the €15.5million ‘Destination Towns’ initiative launched earlier this year by the National Tourism Development Authority.   

Fáilte Ireland says that up to €500,000 per local authority across the country will be allocated in two rounds by Fáilte Ireland to boost the attractiveness and tourism appeal of towns nationwide. The tourist body says process of identifying the towns that receive funding commenced in mid-2019 and was led by the Local Authorities in consultation with Fáilte Ireland.   

Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Brendan Griffin T.D. confirmed that every county in Ireland will benefit and the first round of allocations will take place from January. 

Fáilte Ireland says the scheme is part of the National Tourism Development Authority’s work to drive a better regional spread of overseas and domestic visitors and spend. 

Through the scheme, which was launched earlier this year, every Local Authority in the country had the opportunity to bid for funding of up to €500,000 to develop a town in the county to enable it to improve its tourism offering and make itself more attractive to visitors. The Local Authorities will also provide funding for their projects. 

With Fáilte Ireland research consistently showing that attractive towns and cities are key motivators for overseas holidaymakers coming to Ireland, the tourist body says the new scheme will provide funding to Councils to enhance public spaces such as squares, streetscapes and markets in a way that will engage tourists and enhance their experience in key towns.  

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Shane Ross said tourism’s importance as an economic driver for Ireland cannot be overstated.

"It sustains 260,000 jobs across the country and generates revenue in communities nationwide. Initiatives like Destination Towns, funded through the Government’s Project Ireland 2040, is a great example of how investing in infrastructure can deliver long-term economic benefits for local communities,” he said in statement 

 Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Brendan Griffin T.D., said it was good to see the tourism body working with councils. 

“I’m delighted to see Fáilte Ireland and the Local Authorities continuing to work hand-in-glove to ensure towns nationwide can fulfil their tourism potential,” he said.  

Fáilte Ireland’s CEO Paul Kelly said: 

“The towns which reap the greatest benefits from tourism and schemes like Destination Towns are those where all local tourism players work together - from local authorities and businesses to the communities themselves, each complementing another’s efforts to create a full and appealing offering for their area.

"A core focus of Fáilte Ireland’s work is to drive a greater regional spread of visitors and revenue across the country. Initiatives like our Destination Towns scheme are critical in doing this by boosting the tourism appeal of destinations across Ireland. We’re delighted with the support from the local authorities and we would like to thank them for their work in putting forward such compelling cases for investment,” he said.

Speaking the announcement , Kathleen Holohan , Chief Executive of Carlow County Council said “we are delighted to have reached the standard to be awarded this funding and look forward to working with our partners in Failte Ireland on delivery of this project” , Holohan continued to say “the project for Carlow Town includes the enhancement of public spaces and creation of a way finding project which will enhance the visitor experience” , Holohan concluded by saying “this project compliments what the local authority is truly about in making great places to live, work and visit”.

Welcoming the funding , Mayor Cllr. Andrea Dalton said “I welcome this funding for Carlow Town and  I am delighted that we have been selected as part of this process” , Dalton continued to say “I acknowledge the input of many parties in this application including Carlow Town Development Forum & Carlow Tourism in the development of this proposal and I look forward to seeing the delivery of this project” , Dalton concluded by saying “Carlow Town has so many visitor experiences such as Visual , Carlow Museum , Carlow Castle and the River Barrow and this project will bring together these experiences in a coherent way”.

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For further information contact Kieran Comerford on 086/8252037 or e-mail kcomerford@carlowcoco.ie