*Pat Dowling. Photograph: Eamon Ward DEPARTING CHIEF EXECUTIVE of Clare County Council, Pat Dowling said the risk in acquiring the Shannon Heritage tourism sites is paying off for the county and criticised “legal loopholes” for slowing down works on projects such as Blake’s Corner.
*Knappogue Castle. “TEETHING problems” have been encountered but Knappogue Castle is on course to open to the public for bookings as a five-star residence in the spring while lack of investment at the Shannon Heritage sites was prevalent ‘for years if not decades’.
*Knappogue Castle. KNAPPOGUE CASTLE is to be opened up as a small residence starting off with rates between €2,000 to €5,000 later this year.
CRAGGAUNOWEN is to undergo a €1m upgrade this year.
VISITOR numbers at Bunratty Castle and Folk Park in County Clare have exceeded more than 344,000 for the year to date representing a 14% increase on the overall visitor count for 2022.
*Cathal Crowe addresses Shannon Heritage workers. Photograph: Natasha Barton RENEWED CONFIDENCE has been expressed by a Clare TD that “appropriate funding and a satisfactory resolution” is on the way for the transfer of Shannon Heritage sites to Clare County Council.
MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT, Eamon Ryan (GP) has committed that the cost dispute delaying the transfer of Shannon Heritage sites to Clare County Council “will be agreed very shortly” but insisted the local authority can’t ‘give figures and walk away’.
*Lily Murphy Shannon Heritage Worker. Photograph: Natasha Barton SEVEN MONTHS AFTER a due diligence report was completed by Clare County Council on the Shannon Heritage sites, their future ownership remains in limbo.
*Shannon Heritage workers question Clare TD, Cathal Crowe (FF). Photograph: Natasha Barton IT WILL BE ‘ALL OR NOTHING’ so far as Government funding is concerned for Clare County Council if they are to take over the Shannon Heritage sites.
Cathal Crowe talking at the Shannon Heritage Workers Protest at Bunratty Folk Park. Photograph: Natasha Barton A FUNDING PACKAGE for the transfer of Shannon Heritage sites to Clare County Council is to be announced “soon”, a Clare TD has promised.
