FORMER GENERAL MANAGER with Clare FM, Susan Murphy is to lead the handover of Shannon Heritage tourism sites from Shannon Group to Clare County Council.
The Clare Echo has learned that the Ballynacally native will take up the role of interim General Manager for Shannon Heritage as of Monday (June 13th). She will be responsible for the day to day management of the Shannon Heritage sites until a transfer date is finalised.
Her appointment was announced in a memo to staff associated with Shannon Group which outlined that Susan will “lead the team over the coming months and play an important part in the successful transition of the company to Clare County Council. Susan joins us with a wealth of general management experience and knowledge of a number of sectors”.
Clare County Council remain in negotiations with several Government departments regarding the potential transfer of sites with up to €15m sought by the local authority to facilitate this.
If negotiations are successful, Bunratty Castle & Folk Park, Knappogue Castle, Crauggownen and a retail outlet at the Cliffs of Moher which had all been operated by Shannon Heritage will fall under the auspices of the local authority.
Officials within the local authority have been working on a bid for a capital injection to the tune of €15m plus €3m annually for three years to repair and maintain the four sites. A deal was due to have been finalised by May.
On the need for financial aid, Council Chief Executive, Pat Dowling previously flagged that the costs associated with the sites “could potentially represent 25% of our budget for 2022”. He stated, “COVID has not been kind to Shannon Heritage, it requires Clare County Council in my view to save the Shannon Heritage product that exists. We cannot sustain 150 staff out of our current account, until and when tourism numbers regain their strength or as they were in 2019 and we will pay our way then”.
Tourism consultant, Cllr Cillian Murphy (FF) said the transfer of the sites was “the single biggest tourism development in the country”.
In June of last year, Susan stepped down as General Manager of Clare FM to pursue other interests, bringing an end on her 27 year involvement with the radio station. Prior to this, she was head of sales and marketing along with the role of Head of Operations.
She previously served on the board of IRS, the marketing and media sales body in Dublin. Susan was responsible with overseeing Clare FM’s move to its current state of the art studios on Francis St from its previous base on the same street.
During her time as General Manager of Clare FM, she along with ex CEO Liam O’Shea are credited with guiding Clare FM to its highest listenership and numerous awards. Tipperary native O’Shea is currently a member of the Shannon Group board.
