€10m injection seen as a real game changer
NORMAN EXHIBITION CENTRE AND PARK TO OPEN
FUNDING of €10m to bring New Ross tourist attractions up to world class standard has been heralded as a ‘game changer’ for the future of the town.
The New Ross Tourism Transformation project funding announced by Minister for Rural and Community Development, Minister Ring on Wednesday at the Dunbrody Visitor Centre, will see over €6.2m invested in a brand new Norman Exhibition Centre on the quay, over €1.6m invested in the Dunbrody Famine Ship and centre and €1.5m being invested in the development of a medieval park at the High Hill and the town’s Norman trail.
Combined with the €14m for the South East Greenway, tourism experts say the ventures – costing over €24m – will bring up to 500,000 visitors a year to the Barrowside town.
New Ross received the most money of any town in the 26 counties under the Government’s Rural Regeneration programme. The funding will secure around 144 jobs for the local area through ‘world class’ tourism destinations. Work is due to begin on the projects late next year.
THE €10m New Ross Tourism Transformation project funding being invested in New Ross over the coming three years – combined with the €14m for the South East Greenway – will bring up to 500,000 visitors a year to the Barrowside town, tourism experts say.
New Ross has received the most money of any town in the 26 counties under the Government’s Rural Regeneration programme. In total around €10m is being spent on developing a tourist centre at the Michael Murphy and bank buildings on the quay, along with a Norman Trail connecting St Mary’s Church, the High Hill area and major investment in the Dunbrody Experience visitor centre and shop. All three projects are expected to cost around €10m and to be completed by the end of 2021, although the official figure for the works is €9.32m.
Director of services and district manager Eamonn Hore said around €24m is being invested in the area between the Greenway and the New Ross Tourism Transformation project.
Describing the investment as unprecedented, he said the fact New Ross got the biggest sum shows the confidence the Department has in the work being progressed in the town.
This is the first capital funding for a Wexfordia Norman project in the county, with seed funding approved for development of the Irish National Heritage Park and Hook Lighthouse.
It has been confirmed to this newspaper that applications for these projects could be lodged next year.
Other projects in the pipeline funded include the re-development of a property on John’s Street into an Enterprise Hub, community space and café and market area and re-purposing the disused Market House in Gorey as a multi-purpose arts and performance space.
The project in New Ross will see the development of a new world-class visitor attraction telling the unique story of Norman Wexford through the story of William Marshall, ‘The Greatest Knight That Ever Lived’.
The Ros Tapestry (which has been compared to the Bayeux Tapestry) will be rehoused in the new tourist centre, a move which will enable it to deliver its true potential and showcase this hidden gem to its full potential. A new and immersive visitor experience at Dunbrody Famine Ship will be developed, while signage and the development of the High Hill area will add to the town’s tourism offering.
The project for New Ross is estimated by Fáilte Ireland to deliver €11.3m a year in revenue over a 10-year period, directly supporting 144 jobs for the local area.
The New Ross Tourism Transformation project will cost an estimated €9.32m, €5,650,000 coming from the government and the remaining including Fáilte Ireland and Waterford City and County Council funding, coming to a total of €9.32m.
A Fáilte Ireland spokesperson said: ‘This will be a game-changer for New Ross, the Hook peninsula and the wider Wexford area. This forms part of the work the Ireland’s Ancient East team at Fáilte Ireland is doing with the local authority to develop a cluster of compelling visitor attractions in Wexford, including the Irish National Heritage Park at Ferrycarrig and the Hook Lighthouse Visitor Centre at Hook Peninsula, both of which have been allocated funding through Fáilte Ireland investment schemes.’
Speaking in front of a crowd of around 80 people at the Dunbrody Visitor Centre, Minister for Rural and Community Development, Minister Ring said he was delighted to be in New Ross on a historic day in a historic venue: ‘Sometimes people forget when I came into this job two years ago there was no department. We built up a team in two years and I have to say today we have a tremendous team in the Department of Rural & Community Development. This venue is testament of what can be achieved through the dedication and hard work of people who want to improve their towns, villages and communities. The work of the JFK Trust has been hugely beneficial for the people of the town of New Ross for 30 years. The centre we are in and the beautiful ship outside are very visible symbols of the work, but there is also the economic and quality of life benefit that the (JFK) Trust has helped to deliver here in New Ross over the years for the people of New Ross and the south east and beyond.’
Minister Ring congratulated the staff and the board of the trust for their success to date and wished them all the best in the future.
‘Today’s announcement represents the completion of the second call for funding under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund. We have had a phenomenal level of interest, with applications of an excellent standard, and I want to take this opportunity to congratulate all those who were successful.’
He said the €1 billion Rural Regeneration and Development Fund is a key part of project 2040, adding that strengthening rural economies like New Ross is a key part of the project.
Describing the fund as a game changer for rural Ireland, Minister Ring said the funding has the potential to transform New Ross, unlocking its potential.
He unveiled the list of 26 projects, with €65m being allocated, the total cost coming to €95m.
‘The projects supported by the first funding call are now well up and running. I wish you well with this project. I was here two years ago in a private capacity. I went down to see the homestead of John F Kennedy. You have a great model here and a great product and a great town with great people. I see a bright future for rural Ireland and for the people of New Ross.’
He said the fund will be opened again in January, meaning Hook Lighthouse and the Irish National Heritage Park can submit applications providing planning, a detailed design and other criteria are in place, ensuring they are ‘shovel ready’.
Wexford County Council chairman Michael Sheehan said New Ross has a great past, and its people can look forward to a bright future. ‘Today’s announcement will see a return to those glory days of the 1600s outlined in the council minutes we are unveiling this Saturday because the Rural Regeneration Fund plays a huge part in bringing new life and new energies, new business, new com
munities. It makes towns like New Ross far more sustainable and the projects we are announcing today will make sure places like New Ross have a very vibrant future.’
He said Wexford County Council has three projects in the mix.
‘It’s an exciting day for New Ross because it really stems from the county council’s ambition for the future for projects such as the High Hill, the Dunbrody Experience and the Michael Murphy building will bring a whole new range of investments, a whole new range of retail outlets and a whole new confidence in our town, and I am delighted to thank Minister Ring for coming to make this announcement here and to give his ringing endorsement to our town.’
Sheenagh Rooney, Assistant Secretary General with the department said: ‘We are really looking forward to seeing the projects become a reality.
Michael D’Arcy, Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, said: ‘Today’s announcement will be of great benefit to the local area and to Wexford, and will also provide a boost to the local economy.’
Deputy D’Arcy said the funding underscores the Government’s ‘unwavering’ commitment to rural communities and developing the rural economy.
‘All of the projects announced today have the potential to deliver significant economic and social benefits to communities right across the country. I particularly welcome the focus on regeneration as part of this call for applications. Our towns and villages play a key role in acting as the focus of economic and social activity in rural areas and their continued vitality is key to achieving balanced regional development across the country.’
Speaking afterwards Deputy D’Arcy said he is confident funding for the other major capital tourism projects in Co Wexford will be approved, adding that it usually follows that if a project is approved for seed funding they will be approved for capital funding.
Director of Services Eamonn Hore described the announcement as wonderful news and a game changer for the town of New Ross, for Co Wexford and for the south east.
‘The very substantial funding that your department is providing will allow us to deliver a world class tourism destination of scale and compelling interest – which allied with the overall Wexfordia tourism plan – will be transformational in putting Co Wexford and the south east firmly on the international tourism map. We look forward to working with you and your department, and Fáilte Ireland and the Kennedy Trust to bring these plans to fruition in the very near future.’
He thanked the Ireland’s Ancient East team and everyone at Fáilte Ireland for their support and the council special projects team of Eddie Taaffe, Brian Galvin, Fintan Ryan and Siobhan O’Neill.
Mr Hore also thanked Minister Ring for the funding of the four Category 2 projects of €1.94m for the redevelopment plans for the Irish National Heritage Park, the Hook Lighthouse, funding for the Market House in Gorey and the redevelopment of Esmonde Street in Gorey and for the John Street building regeneration project in New Ross.
He also thanked him for the €400,000 in funding which has resulted in the Great New Ross Riverside Walk which has made the river Barrow accessible to locals and visitors alike and for funding for the New Ross town wall scheme.
‘All this funding is bringing great hope, renewed optimism and growing pride in towns like the historic towns of New Ross. I wish you well minister and thank you from the bottom of my heart.’ Speaking afterwards he said a very detailed application was made to the department and clarifications regarding the project were furnished in a timely manner.
‘This is a project of scale. Fáilte Ireland has been involved in this as well. This will bring between 100,000 and 150,000 people to New Ross instead of the 65,000 who are currently coming to the Dunbrody centre. When this is linked with Hook Lighthouse and the Irish National Heritage Park you’ll have a triangle of attractions to keep visitors in Co Wexford. This benefits the whole south east region.’
With Co Wexford attracting the fifth highest number of domestic visitors, the challenge now is to attract international tourists, Mr Hore said.
Director of Services at Wexford County Council, Eddie Taaffe described the funding as ‘a fitting and deserved outcome to the combined efforts of the county council, Fáilte Ireland and the JFK Trust to transform New Ross into a compelling and sustainable visitor destination of world class quality and scale.’
Minister Paul Kehoe, Wexford County council CEO Tom Enright and CEO of the Dunbrody visitor Experience Sean Connick apologised for not being able to attend the event.
Closing the announcement ceremony, Cllr Sheehan made a presentation of Wexford produce to Minister Ring.
THIS WILL BE A GAME-CHANGER FOR NEWROSS, THE HOOK PENINSULA AND THE WIDER WEXFORD AREA