Clare’s Inis Cealtra Visitor Experience opens in Mountshannon

Siobhan Mcnulty Director of Tourism Development Clare

The Inis Cealtra Visitor Experience in Mountshannon has been opened by Minister Timmy Dooley.

The €5.3 million project, funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development and Clare County Council, restored a rectory to serve as a visitor centre.

Interactive exhibits, a 3D model, and community stories provide insights into the history of Inis Cealtra, known as Holy Island.

A first-floor café and landscaped gardens enhance the visitor experience at the centre.

Public realm works on Main Street in Mountshannon aim to improve connectivity and create a public space.

Timmy Dooley shared: “With the support of over €4 million from the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, this new visitor centre will help boost tourism and economic growth in Mountshannon, increasing footfall and driving visitor numbers. It will help the east Clare region and the Banner County as a whole, while showcasing the beauty and vital cultural importance of the ‘Holy Island’, Inis Cealtra, cherished locally as the ‘Jewel of Lough Derg’.”

Paul Murphy shared: “This carefully restored centre brings the natural beauty of Inis Cealtra, Lough Derg, and Mountshannon to life.”