The 20-acre site which is centred around a 16th century castle features reconstructions of ancient Irish architecture, including a dolmen, crannogs and the original 'Brendan Boat' used by Tim Severin during his 1973 recreation of the transatlantic voyage of St. Brendan the Abbot.
Included in the upgrades will be the Craggaunowen's signature crannógs and woven hut lake dwellings, along with the bridge that connects them to the remainder of the site.
A new playground themed on St. Brendan's Voyage will also be developed, while significant upgrades to the public carpark, public toilet facilities, fencing and pathways will be carried out. Wayfinding signage and an audio-visual experience to complement the 'Brendan Boat’ will also be developed.
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Stephen Hanley, General Manager of Clare Tourism East said: "Craggaunowen is an important landmark on the Clare tourism landscape, and it is a key contributor to the local economy. With the support of the Hunt Museum Trust, we are committed to investing in one of Ireland’s most important and best known archaeological open-air museums as part of a comprehensive capital investment programme in the Local Authority’s portfolio of visitor attractions."
Pauline Lenihan, Site Manager at Craggaunowen stated: "As someone who has worked at the Craggaunowen since it first opened, I very much welcome this much-needed investment. It is a very exciting development for staff, the local community and everyone associated with Craggaunowen as it will undoubtedly encourage more tourists to come and explore the roots of the people, homesteads, animals and artifacts of our Celtic ancestors of over 1,000 years ago which have touched and shaped how we live today."
Clare County Council, with government backing, has invested over €4m in Bunratty Castle, Folk Park, Craggaunowen, Knappogue Castle, and the Cliffs of Moher retail unit since taking over these Shannon Heritage properties from The Shannon Airport Group in May 2023. Additionally, €2.9m has been allocated for enhancing the Vandeleur Walled Garden and Visitor Centre in Kilrush.
A further €7.8m is set aside for investment in 2024 for Clare County Council's portfolio of attractions, encompassing Inis Cealtra (Holy Island Visitor Experience) in Mountshannon, the Cliffs of Moher Experience, and Loop Head Lighthouse.
