THE FAMINE Museum at Strokestown Park House, Co Roscommon, is to receive €2.2 million for the development of an international centre for the interpretation of the Famine.
The funding will also be used for the study of famines across the world. The museum is one of six visitor attractions throughout the State allocated a total of €11.2 million in development grants yesterday by Minister for Tourism Martin Cullen.
The funding is from Fáilte Ireland's tourism investment capital programme. Mr Cullen said international and domestic economic factors were "creating a challenging trading environment for the tourism sector at present, but it is important we continue to invest in our tourism product, so we can be best placed to take full advantage when more favourable economic conditions return".
Mr Cullen added that as well as the development of the Strokestown museum, the funding would allow for the expansion of three historic houses and their gardens, collections and visitor experiences in Cork, Kilkenny and Wicklow.
The funding would allow development of the visitor experience of a Famine ship in Wexford, and improvements to a 600-year-old castle in Cork. The other facilities to receive funding are: Fota House and Gardens, Fota Island, Carrigtwohill, Co Cork - €1,700,490; Russborough House, Blessington, Co Wicklow - €2,251,351; Rothe House, Kilkenny - €1,964,000; Dunbrody Famine Ship, South Quay, New Ross, Co Wexford - €1,887,001; Blarney Castle, Blarney, Co Cork - €1,097,583.
