Designs to be drawn up for Bulmers visitor centre in Clonmel

Bulmers and the C&C group are supporting plans for the redevelopment of their Dowd's Lane site as a visitor attraction as part of Flights of Discovery, the enhanced tourism product proposed for Clonmel.  

This was confirmed by District Administrator Anthony Coleman at a meeting of Clonmel Borough District. 

He said the company intended progressing to more detailed design and planning for this project this year.

"This will also involve the establishment of a joint venture company to assist in the delivery of this project", said Mr. Coleman.

Preparatory work is also underway in relation to other elements of the tourism experience in Clonmel, with the completion of the Suir Island Masterplan and the initial structural inspection of the West Gate.

"Failte Ireland has now approved a grant of €200,000 to develop parts of the County Museum's interpretation space under a Scheme for Storytelling Interpretation for small-medium-sized projects", said Mr. Coleman.

"Funding is available for the improvement of the quality of the interpretation, animation and storytelling at the museum, in line with Failte Ireland's Toolkit for Storytelling Interpretation.

"A formal letter of offer has been issued and the council will then seek to appoint a specialist design team to develop and oversee the upgrade of the museum.

"This project will take approximately twelve months and will deliver the first element of the enhanced tourism product proposed for Clonmel".

Mr. Coleman said that Failte Ireland had recently indicated that, given the current levels of investment activity, it estimates that the next call for applications for large capital projects will probably take place during 2019 at the earliest.