- Contract for the €7.8m redevelopment of the visitor centre at Clonmacnoise has been signed. Project proceeds under funding from Fáilte Ireland’s Regenerative Tourism and Placemaking Scheme.
- Construction begins in the coming weeks.
The contract for a €7.8m redevelopment of the visitor centre at Clonmacnoise in County Offaly has been signed and works are set to begin shortly. The project has received funding through Fáilte Ireland’s Regenerative Tourism and Placemaking Scheme under the EU Just Transition Fund and involves the Office of Public Works. It includes the construction of a new extension together with the refurbishment of the existing visitor centre buildings to improve the overall experience for those who visit the historic monastic site.
The redevelopment will enhance facilities at one of Ireland’s most important early Christian heritage locations on the banks of the River Shannon. Contractors confirmed the start of construction within the next two weeks and the modernised visitor centre is scheduled to open to the public in early 2027.
Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works Kevin “Boxer” Moran welcomed the contract signing as a positive step for tourism in the Midlands.
Clonmacnoise attracts 125,000 visitors each year who come to see the round towers, high crosses and cathedral remains that date back more than 1,500 years. The upgraded centre will allow for improved flow of people through the site and offers enhanced educational resources about the monastery’s role in Irish history. Offaly County Council and tourism stakeholders view the project as part of broader efforts to develop sustainable visitor experiences in the county.
Minister Kevin Moran shared “this contract signing marks an important milestone for the redevelopment of the visitor centre at Clonmacnoise”.
