Pictured at the contract signing for the development of a new café and restaurant at Vandeleur Walled Garden and Visitor Centre – Back left to right: Gerard O’Malley, Tom Mc Namara and Partners; Louise Loughnane and Martin Loughnane, Martins Construction; Aldo Andreucetti, Clare County Council; Noel Kilkenny, Chair, Kilrush Amenity Trust; Donnacha Lynch, Clare Tourism Development DAC; Ciarán Reid, Brambles; Front left to right: Richie Robinson, Lead Architect, Jackson Coleman & Associates; Leonard Cleary, Clare County Council; Colette Costelloe, Clare County Council; Councillor Ian Lynch, Chair West Clare MD and Board Member Kilrush Amenity Trust; Maeve Reid, Brambles; Councillor Joe Cooney, Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council; Councillor Gabriel Keating, Board Member, Kilrush Amenity Trust; AND Deirdre O’Shea, Clare County Council – Photo Brian Arthur
AN ONGOING multi-million euro redevelopment at Vandeleur Walled Garden and Visitor Centre in Kilrush is to create ten new permanent jobs.
A 140 seater indoor and outdoor café and restaurant is to be developed at the West Clare visitor attraction. On Tuesday, Clare County Council signed a contract with Martins Construction Ltd for the works. It is anticipated that the new facility will open in June 2024.
Following a competitive tender process for the restaurant, Brambles Café chain, were awarded the tender for operating the new facility, which will allow for Vandeleur Walled Garden and Visitor Centre to cater for corporate and festive events. Brambles have had a similar contract at the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience since 2019.
Works have been ongoing since 2021 to extensively restore and renovate the site as part of an overall Visitor Development Strategy that also includes the improved use of the 420 acres of surrounding native woodland. The new café and restaurant development consists of restoration work and alterations within the existing stable block courtyard to support tourism development, including a café and restaurant, indoor and outdoor dining area, kitchen, office and welfare facilities.
Earlier this year, a new interpretive centre was opened together with the newly renovated stable block, a new gardener’s maintenance building and public toilet facilities. The Department of Rural and Community Development also has approved funding totalling €245,000, with 25% match funding from Clare County Council, for the recently completed resurfacing of the public carpark and other ancillary service works.
According to Cllr. Joe Cooney (FG), Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council, “Vandeleur Walled Garden and Visitor Centre is a key contributor to the West Clare economy. This development will add greatly to the overall visitor experience and will facilitate increased length of stay and visitor spend in the local area”.
Cllr Ian Lynch (IND), Cathaoirleach of West Clare Municipal District (MD) and Board Director of Kilrush Amenity Trust commented, “As a long-time supporter of the development of Vandeleur Walled Garden and Visitor Centre, I am very proud of what has been achieved at this visitor attraction for the benefit of town of Kilrush and West Clare. Kilrush Amenity Trust CLG and Clare County Council, along with the staff and management of the site, have produced an award-winning visitor attraction that has remained true to the origins and history of this location.”
Pat Dowling, Chief Executive of Clare County Council, said, “With support from government, Clare County Council is committed to investing in the future development of the attraction, which has been the subject of an investment totalling more than €2.6 million to date and an additional recent welcome injection of €245,000 for the completion of accessibility and ancillary improvements within and surrounding the centre. Our goal is to not only help recover tourism and assist rural regeneration in Kilrush and surrounding areas, but also to create opportunities for economic growth and employment in the wider region.”
Noel Kilkenny, Chairperson of Kilrush Amenity Trust CLG stated, “Our ambition always has been to establish a focal point for visitors to commence their journey through West Clare. This additional on-site development will assist us in further enhancing Vandeleur’s growing reputation as a signature attraction in County Clare”.
