Carrick-on-Suir visitor centre hosts Thank You night for donors

Attending the Tides of Time Visitor Centre Thank You event for donors were Seated: Margaret McGrath, Margaret Crowley, Eileen Butler and Seamus McGrath. Back row: Marie Fitzpatrick and Jennie Brain. | Anne Marie Magorrian

placeholder image — Attending the Tides of Time Visitor Centre Thank You event for donors were Seated: Margaret McGrath, Margaret Crowley, Eileen Butler and Seamus McGrath. Back row: Marie Fitzpatrick and Jennie Brain. | Anne Marie Magorrian

The celebration took place at Carrick-on-Suir’s Tides of Time Visitor Centre formerly known as Carrick-on-Suir Heritage Centre

A Thank You night honouring donors who helped fund Carrick-on-Suir's Tides of Time Visitor Centre was hosted by Carrick-on-Suir Development Association on October 22.

Guests enjoyed canapés and drinks at the event in the centre, located off Main Street, that was officially reopened by Tourism Minister Peter Burke in July following the completion of a €750,000 revamp with the help of €352,000 grant aid from Fáilte Ireland.

COSDA Chairman Niall Walsh thanked all the donors, who contributed €80,000 over four years to the transformation of Carrick Heritage Centre at the former St Nicholas Church of Ireland building into the state-of-the-art Tides of Time Centre showcasing the history and culture of Carrick-on-Suir and its hinterland through artefacts, memorabilia and audio-visual interpretive displays including touchscreen technology.

“Your generosity allowed us to obtain funding from statutory bodies, the South Tipperary Development Company and the Rural Enterprise Development Fund. When one gets grants from these bodies, matching funds are a requirement,” he explained.

“We also thank the John O’Shea Trust, the Bourke Trust, the Ireland Funds, Kelsey Warren of Castletown and John Ronan. In total we raised €250,000 to match grants.”

Mr Walsh also thanked Carrick-on-Suir Credit Union for its support with finance and COSDA Secretary Patsy Fitzgerald, who did “great and selfless work” looking after Carrick Heritage Centre for 35 years.

He paid tribute to Carrick Tourism & Economic Development Committee Chairman Tony Musiol, who also spoke at the event, and Sarah Jane Cleary, Explore Carrick-on-Suir Commercial & Tourism Manager.

Their ability and hard work in conjunction with Mirador Media facilitated the development of the Tides of Time Centre, he said.

And he thanked the volunteers and employees who have promoted Tides of Time since its opening in June.

Mr Walsh pointed out projections show the centre will need further community support of €100,000 in the early years as visitor numbers build up.

“We are asking you and the community to support us again,” he said.

Mr Walsh said they aimed to increase visitor numbers to the centre by a factor of five over the next five years.

“We appeal to people who have an interest in tourism, heritage, history and storytelling to join us in Carrick Development Association. We need young and fresh faces to help us on our journey.”