AILLWEE BURREN EXPERIENCE reopens to the public this Friday following completion of a €1m renovation project.
A rebrand is also part of the renovation with the former Aillwee Cave and Birds of Prey Centre now named the Aillwee Burren Experience.
Management hope the renovation and rebrand of the family run company will encourage visitors to pre-pandemic figures of up to 120,000 people annually. There are 25 full-time employees at Aillwee.
Works carried out as part of the €1m investment include an upgrading of the entire lighting system and accessibility within the cave. Prey aviaries were rebuilt, so too interpretation signage throughout the centre. Funds were also spent on the development of an onsite downloadable app providing multi-lingual visitor information, marketing and promotion plus an enhanced website and booking system.
Managing Director of Aillwee Burren Experience, Nuala Mulqueeney stated, “Our visitors will now be able to enjoy the reinvigorated experience from the newly installed cave lighting system to the spectacular birds of prey collection. The Farm Shop here at Aillwee really is our hidden gem where you can see the award-winning Burren Gold Cheese being made using traditional farmhouse methods. We are really proud of the outcome of this renovation, and we can’t wait to welcome visitors back”.
Forty five minute guided underground tours will be operating in Aillwee Cave to unlock an intriguing, timeless story full of fossils and formations. There is also an accessible biodiversity walk through mature, eight-acre woodlands that boast beautiful examples of native Holly, Ash, and Hazel trees. The naturally terraced hillside reveals 360-degree views of Burren Limestone pavement and karst terrain with views sweeping right across Galway Bay and overlooking the Wild Atlantic Way.
Daily interactive flying displays can be enjoyed from the Birds of Prey collection and also the once-in-a-lifetime Hawk Walk. Sustainable farmhouse methods are also part of the agenda including methods used in creating the award-winning Burren Gold Cheese.
Speaking at the relaunch of Aillwee Burren Experience Aoibhín Garrihy said, “Aillwee Burren Experience is one of the most magical and unique visitor attractions in Ireland. Not only what it offers from the guided cave tour itself, the birds of prey experience and wonderful farm shop – but the surrounding area of The Burren is one of the most strikingly beautiful areas of Ireland. Aillwee Burren Experience has always been a favourite of mine growing up, and I’m really looking forward to exploring the new and improved attraction.”
