Mayor of County Cork, Cllr John Paul O’Shea has welcomed the announcement by The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Paschal Donohoe TD, along with Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Michael Ring TD, today announced over €1m in a further phase of funding for capital projects in Ireland’s Ancient East.
The funding is being made through Fáilte Ireland’s ‘New Ideas in Ancient Spaces’ Capital Grants Scheme. County Cork is to receive €228k which is intended to develop a new visitor experience in the iconic Clockgate Tower in the heart of Youghal, and tell the story of Cobh’s maritime past in Cobh heritage centre.
The Clockgate Tower is to receive €200k and will have its visitor experience enhanced through a permanent interpretative exhibition that will bring the historical story of the clock tower to life. The improved experience will also include costumed storytellers presenting and animating 700 years of history, in addition to storyboards and screen imagery supporting the story. An audio-visual companion will enhance the experience for non-native English Speakers.
The exhibition space in Cobh Heritage Centre which is to be completed as part of the latest fundign announcement towards Ireland’s Ancient East.
The exhibition space in Cobh Heritage Centre which is to receive €28k will complete the current story by adding the West Indies story of Irish servants/slaves as a prequel to the main maritime emigration theme. This project also includes the addition of a multilingual self-guided audio tour. The new exhibits in conjunction with the existing storyline and proposed audio tour, would contribute in making the “Queenstown Story” a world class experience and a memorable and educational voyage through Irish history and culture.
The grant to The Clock Tower Project in Youghal and Cobh Heritage followed a call for submissions from interested parties across the region to apply under the scheme.
