More than £6.4 million has been given in European Union grants towards 15 tourism projects in different locations. Funding for the projects, the total cost of which amounts to more than £17 million, was announced yesterday by the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation, Dr McDaid.
The beneficiaries include the Limerick City Navigation Project, the restoration and refurbishment of Belvedere House, Jealous Wall and Gardens in Mullingar, Co Westmeath, and the development of a national sealife centre at Bray, Co Wicklow.
Other projects to benefit are a surfing centre at Strandhill, Co Sligo, and a driving school at Renvyle, Co Galway. The restoration of gardens at Bantry House in Co Cork, Ardgillan Castle in Skerries, Co Dublin, and Newbridge House, Donabate, Co Dublin, will also receive assistance, as will the Botanic Gardens in Malahide, Co Dublin.
There will also be grants for the development of a forest-based holiday village at Kilfinane, Co Limerick, visitor mooring sites at Helvick, Co Waterford, and conference facilities at Bundoran, Co Donegal, and Tralee, Co Kerry. Grant assistance has also been offered for the development of leisure centres at Dundrum, Co Tipperary, and Buncrana, Co Donegal.