INIS CEALTRA’s visitor centre is planned to open next month.
One of the most important ecclesiastical sites in the country, a new chapter for Inis Cealtra will begin in June.
The Old Rectory and gardens are in the final stages of refurbishment and will be known as the Inis Cealtra Visitor Experience.
This experience will incorporate an accessible visitor interpretation experience of Inis Cealtra (Holy Island) and the surrounding village of Mountshannon. This is a signature attraction of Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands and the Lough Derg Blueway.
Inside, there will be an interactive history of the island interpreted as well as local and community stories bringing the folklore of the island to life. There will be video footage of the island as well as a 3D model (built to scale) with educational features included. There will be audio niches capturing local stories as well as what life is like now and then throughout the times of the Mountshannon linen industry.
Another room will feature wildlife at the harbour and within this special area of conservation. There will be an upstairs café which will also lead to an outdoor terraced seating area.
According to a spokesperson for Clare County Council, “It is envisaged that the Old Rectory and the Inis Cealtra Visitor Experience will open from 16th June 2025”.
In 2015, the Council took 41 acres on the island into public ownership. The Council acquired the Old Rectory building in 2021.
