The history and stories behind Belvedere House, Gardens and Park will be brought to life thanks to a €198,000 development grant from Fáilte Ireland.
As part of its wider strategy to boost tourism and revenue across Ireland’s regions, Fáilte Ireland is providing a series of capital grants through the new Storytelling Interpretation Grants Scheme to improve the quality of animation and storytelling at existing attractions throughout Ireland’s Ancient East.
Successful bids, including Belvedere House, Gardens and Park, 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.
Welcoming the grant announcement today, Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Brendan Griffin TD, said: “Ireland’s Ancient East attracts visitors from across the country and overseas thanks to its rich history and storytelling. Westmeath 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 this one for the amazing Belvedere House, Gardens and Park will really help to boost the tourism offering here and, in turn, drive even more visitors and revenue into County Westmeath.”
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 the one we’ve announced today for Belvedere House, Gardens and Park in Westmeath, 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.”
