Craggaunowen in County Clare is set to receive a €1m investment for a significant upgrade. The open-air museum will reopen on St. Patrick’s Day for the 2024 season.
The 20-acre site features reconstructions of ancient Irish architecture like dolmens and crannógs, centered around a 16th-century castle. It also displays the original ‘Brendan Boat’ used by Tim Severin in 1973 to recreate St. Brendan the Navigator’s transatlantic voyage.
The upgrade plans for 2024 include enhancing crannógs and woven hut lake dwellings, developing a themed playground, improving carpark, toilet facilities, fencing, and pathways. Wayfinding signage and an audio-visual experience related to the ‘Brendan Boat’ are also part of the development.
Pauline Lenihan, Site Manager at Craggaunowen added: “As someone who has worked at Craggaunowen since it first opened, I very much welcome this much-needed investment. It is a very exciting development for staff, the local community and everyone associated with Craggaunowen as it will undoubtedly encourage more tourists to come and explore the roots of the people, homesteads, animals and artifacts of our Celtic ancestors of over 1,000 years ago which have touched and shaped how we live today.”
