Ireland's Ancient East Funding Success

Old Cork Waterworks Experience has been given a major boost as Fáilte Ireland have awarded funding from its new Storytelling Interpretation Grants Scheme to enhance the existing visitor experience.
As part of its wider strategy to boost tourism and revenue across Ireland’s regions, Fáilte Ireland launched the scheme last year to improve the quality of animation and storytelling at existing attractions throughout Ireland’s Ancient East. Successful bids have been recognised for their ability to improve the quality of physical interpretation at their sites through a range of innovative resources including audio guides, video and interactive technology.

Pictured at the funding announcment are Michéal Lyons Cork City Council, Jenny De Saulles Ireland's Ancient East, Minister of State Brendan Griffin T.D. and Mervyn Horgan Old Cork Waterworks Experience 
Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Brendan Griffin T.D., who visited Old Cork Waterworks Experienc to see first-hand how the grants will help each of the attractions, said:

“Ireland’s Ancient East attracts visitors from across the country and overseas thanks to its rich history and storytelling. Cork is a key player in Ireland’s Ancient East, with a wealth of experiences, culture and heritage available across the whole county, all year round. Grants like those which have been awarded to the amazing St. Mary’s Collegiate Church, Old Cork Waterworks Experience, Fota House and Cork Public Museum will really help to boost the tourism offering here and, in turn, drive even more visitors and revenue into County Cork.”

Jenny De Saulles, Head of Ireland’s Ancient East at Fáilte Ireland, said:

“Visitors from around the world are increasingly expecting more interactive and hands-on ways to enjoy history and heritage – key components of our Ireland’s Ancient East brand. Development grants, like those we’ve announced today in Cork, are vital in ensuring our tourism offering remains strong and competitive. One of the key aims of our Ireland’s Ancient East brand is to drive greater regional growth and a longer season for many businesses. At Fáilte Ireland, we will continue to support tourism businesses across the county to develop a world-class experience for visitors from every corner of the globe.”

Pictured in the engine room are Mervyn Horgan Old Cork Waterworks Experience and Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Brendan Griffin T.D.   ‌
Fáilte Ireland has identified a number of strategic objectives and priorities for Ireland’s Ancient East which target the use of storytelling interpretation to create brilliant experiences and in turn to deliver economic benefits.

These objectives are to:

• Deliver engaging world-class visitor experiences that make Ireland’s living and historical culture accessible through the use of authentic stories as a differentiator;
• Create and deliver unique visitor experiences based on “living” the history;
• Provide the visitor with interpretation in the first language of the target audience, i.e. in English, French, German, Spanish and Italian;
• Increase the length of time visitors spend in Ireland’s Ancient East and the amount of money they spend there;
• Encourage overseas visitors to stay beyond the traditional tourism season and to visit longer.

Old Cork Waterworks Experience is one of only four Cork attractions in receipt of funding under the Story Telling Interpretation Grants Scheme.