Augmented reality and 3D experience to be offered on Cape Clear
A new visitor attraction will offer augmented reality and 3D experiences centred around one of Cork’s lighthouses, it was announced this morning.
Fáilte Ireland and Údarás na Gaeltachta have just announced capital investment funding to support two major tourism development projects on the islands of Árainn (Inis Mór) in Galway and Cléire (Cape Clear) in Cork.
The Cape Clear Fastnet Experience and Heritage Centre has been allocated over €1 million in capital investment funding to significantly upgrade and develop the current visitor attraction, creating a new innovative visitor attraction that will offer augmented reality and 3D experiences centred around Fastnet Lighthouse.
Additionally, the project involves relocating and interpreting the existing collection of heritage artifacts from the existing Cape Clear museum to tell the story of the island’s ancient past, as well as its maritime heritage.
By enhancing visitor dwell times and potentially encouraging overnight stays, the centre will serve as a significant economic asset while preserving the island’s rich cultural heritage.
Modern facilities, outdoor spaces, bicycle parking, covered seating, and adjacent toilet facilities are part of the upgraded building’s amenities.
These projects are spearheaded by Údarás na Gaeltachta (ÚnaG) in partnership with comharchumainn (community cooperatives), Comharchumann Forbartha Árann Teo in Co. Galway and Comharchumann Chléire Teo in Co. Cork. The projects aim to enhance both the community fabric of the islands, while also improving the visitor experience, extending the islands’ tourism season, and providing significant economic and cultural benefits to the local communities.
Capital investment funding totalling over €3 million has been allocated to the Árainn – Place of Stone Visitor Centre, which will be located in the former Aran Islands Heritage Centre in Cill Rónáin, Inis Mór
The capital investment in these island tourism projects is just one of the outputs from the partnership between Fáilte Ireland and Údarás na Gaeltachta which aims to make Gaeltacht experiences appealing, accessible and relevant to visitors.
Minister for Tourism Catherine Martin TD said: “These initiatives, led by Údarás na Gaeltachta in collaboration with local comharchumainn, will be fantastic additions to the visitor offering along the Wild Atlantic Way. Both of these new visitor attractions will help to preserve and showcase the islands’ heritage, language and culture in imaginative multi-media experiences that will create long-lasting, memorable experiences for visitors.
Paul Kelly CEO at Fáilte Ireland said: “These development projects will be vital in helping to extend the tourism season beyond the traditional summer months across both islands, increasing dwell time, promoting visitation in all weather and encouraging overnight stays. Fáilte Ireland estimates that these projects combined will drive almost €50 million in visitor spend for the regions over next 10 years.”
Tomás Ó Siocháin, CEO of Údarás na Gaeltachta, added: "These projects embody our commitment to balancing tourism development with community needs, ensuring that our islands remain vibrant, living Gaeltacht areas for generations to come."