*Pictured at Vandeleur Walled Gardens Experience, Kilrush, County Clare, are (l-r): Stephanie Leonard; Liam Williams; Colette Costello; Leonard Cleary; Donnacha Lynch; Cllr Tony O’Brien, Cathaoirleach, Clare County Council; Pat Dowling, Chief Executive, Clare County Council; Ruth Hurley; Noel Kilkenny; Deirdre O’Shea; Steve Lahiffe; Cllr Gabriel Keating; and Siobhan King. Photograph: Eamon Ward
A NEW INTERPRETATIVE museum is to open at the Vandeleur Walled Gardens Experience in Kilrush later this year.
Works have been ongoing since 2021 to extensively restore and renovate the old stable block at the site, which also will feature a new gardeners’ building.
Regarded as a location with massive potential in growing West Clare’s tourism offering, Vandeleur Walled Gardens Experience is centred on a sheltered walled garden that was formerly part of the Vandeleur Family Demesne.
Donnacha Lynch, Head of Commercial Services, also confirmed that Clare County Council is funding the development of a new café/restaurant on site with qualified applicants invited to operate the new facility, which is presently known as The Woodland Bistro. Queries on this can be routed directly to Ben Pearson of Agar Commercial Property.
Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council, Cllr Tony O’Brien (FF) commended the local authority for its investment in the visitor attraction and the Visitor Development Strategy that also includes the improved use of the 420 acres of surrounding native woodland. He said the Council with the support of Kilrush Civic Amenity Trust Ltd “is committed to delivering a top-class visitor attraction that will deliver long lasting and tangible economic benefits for Kilrush, West Clare and the wider economy”.
This commitment was reinforced by Council Chief Executive, Pat Dowling to help tourism recovery and assist rural regeneration in Kilrush “but also to create opportunities for economic growth and employment in the wider region”. The project is funded by the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, Project Ireland 2040, under the Department of Rural and Community Development with match funding by Clare County Council.
Noel Kilkenny, Chairperson of Kilrush Amenity Trust, said there has been a hugely positive response from customers and visitors to the Visitor Development Strategy for Vandeleur Walled Gardens Experience. “This is good news for Kilrush, and we are proud to be able to add to the ever-expanding portfolio of high-quality tourist amenities in West Clare”.
Deirdre O’Shea, Head of Tourism, Clare County Council, commented: “The opening of a new interpretative centre and café is a significant move towards developing a best-in-class heritage attraction in West Clare at a time when heritage tourism continues to grow amongst domestic and international tourists alike”.
Ruth Hurley, Project Manager and Senior Executive Architect with Clare County Council, confirmed that the design team for the café project comprises Tom McNamara (Quantity Surveyor), P Coleman & Associates (Architects/Engineers), Moloney Fox Consulting Engineers (Mechanical & Engineering) and Ruth Minogue (Ecology).
