Varadkar announces €620K for Dublin tourism trail aimed at international visitors

Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport Leo Varadkar has announced €620,000 to further develop several key tourism attractions in Dublin, the restoration of the historic church bell which was the first Catholic Bell to ring in Dublin in breach of the Penal Laws.

The five projects which all form part of the new Dublin tourism trail the Dubline will share the funding following an invitation for applications from tourism operators along the route last year. Fáilte Ireland has recommended grants for the following projects:

• St Werburgh’s Church – €200,000
• Dublinia €184,000
• Christ Church Cathedral – €188,500
• Tailor’s Hall – €29,040
• Smock Alley – €17,814

“Projects like this will boost the effectiveness of the Dubline project and give the city a competitive edge when it comes to attracting more overseas visitors to the city. This is not only good for tourism but also for businesses, retailers and jobs in the city,” Minister Varadkar said.

A fully-interactive and innovative way of telling the Dublin story, the Dubline will form a unique cultural and heritage walking trail running across the city from College Green to Kilmainham.

Tourism is currently worth over €1.5 billion to Dublin and the Dubline aims to grow this by using technology, wi-fi information links, dynamic signage, and dedicated branding. The goal is to give walkers an interactive, informative and enjoyable trail through the city. The Dubline will involve:

further investment in visitor attractions and infrastructure, including the development of a significant new visitor meeting point along the route;
the development of themed walking trails based around the central route;
better access to the heritage of the area through online, mobile and traditional media;
improving the pedestrian environment;
high-profile marketing of the Dubline to both domestic and international visitors.

“The Dubline will tell Dublin’s story and will become a focal point for visitors. A walk from Trinity College to Kilmainham takes you through centuries of Irish history, including our Viking, medieval, Norman and Anglo-Irish pasts. This new initiative will combine the ancient era with modern technology to immerse tourists in Dublin’s history. We also plan to develop a new Independence Trail, linking key locations in the War of Independence, as part of the Dubline,” Minister Varadkar added.

Fáilte Ireland CEO, Shaun Quinn today echoed the Minister’s sentiments: “Increasingly, a successful tourism destination needs to be able to tell its story and to provide opportunities for visitors to engage with the narrative. We believe that the Dubline will allow us to do just that and will help us to raise our game in marketing Dublin as a world class destination.”