Two venues in Galway are among five nationally which will share in a total of €1 million in funding aimed at developing gala dinner venues as part of an effort to grow the country’s main business events hubs.
Claregalway Castle and St Nicholas’ Collegiate Church are among the five projects awarded funding under the Platforms for Growth Gala Dinner Venues Investment Scheme, announced by Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media Catherine Martin and Fáilte Ireland.
This investment will go towards the development and enhancement of the venues, to enable them to compete to win international business events for Ireland.
It is estimated that €67 million worth of incremental business events could be delivered for the country’s business hubs of Dublin, Kerry, the Shannon region and Galway over a five-year period on the back of this investment.
Claregalway Castle has a spectacular setting on the banks of the Clare River beside the ruins of a 13th century Franciscan Abbey. It has recently undergone an award-winning restoration and offers a charming platform to showcase world-class visiting chefs, entertainers and superb local food produce.
St Nicholas’ Collegiate Church is situated in the heart of Galway city and is an iconic medieval building with a rich history going back over 700 years. It offers an accessible and enriching experience with a ‘wow’ factor that is guaranteed to appeal to international business event planners and delegates.
Gala dinners are a key component of international conferences, incentive trips, and large corporate meetings, and Ireland’s current gala dinner venue offering is not sufficient to deal with demand.
The Gala Dinner Venues Investment Scheme was established to accommodate demand in the market, and to ensure the sustainable growth of business events revenue, which is central to Fáilte Ireland’s sustainable tourism agenda.
The other venues to receive capital investment funding under the scheme are St Mary’s Cathedral in Limerick, Custom House Quarter Ltd in Dublin, and Killarney Brewing & Distilling Visitors Experience Limited, Kerry.
The projects receiving investment were strategically selected during an application process which began in 2022, and were judged under strict eligibility criteria, including an ability to deliver on capacity (250 diners, or 350 for Dublin venues ), accessibility in terms of their proximity to one of Ireland’s business events hubs, as well as exceptional value and a spectacular location.
The selected venues will be required to adhere to and promote sustainability best practice in the operation of the venue and should support the business events industry to deliver events complying with best practice environmental sustainability measures.
“The business events industry is a key component of Ireland’s tourism offering and driver of economic benefit for Ireland, with an estimated contribution of almost €800 million to our economy and supporting 20,000 jobs,” Minister Catherine Martin said at the announcement.
Restorer of the 15th-century Claregalway Castle, Dr Eamonn O’Donoghue, said: “We are all delighted to collaborate with Fáilte Ireland. Our team at Claregalway Castle have run many original events with flair and creativity and this new initiative will really put wind in the sails. Irish castles, in their heyday, were notable gathering places and centres of culture, hospitality and spectacle. We try to honour these traditions in an authentic manner and our visitors experience 600 years of history and culture while enjoying the best of Ireland’s cuisine, music, theatre, poetry, stories and fun. This ‘wow’ gala initiative will help us develop a really magical experience, and provide an enhanced platform to showcase the extraordinary breadth of talented people in the west of Ireland’s hospitality and entertainment sectors.”
The rector of St Nicholas’ Church The Very Rev Lynda Peilow, said the funding would allow much-needed improvements to lighting, toilets and kitchen facilities at the church. Originally built in 1320, St Nicholas’ is Galway city’s oldest intact building.
“St Nicholas’ has got a ‘wow’ factor as the oldest standing building in Galway,” Rev Peilow added. “It is one of the great medieval churches in Ireland hosting many impressive features; the serene atmosphere, stained glass windows; together with 700 years of history and tales. St Nicholas’ Collegiate Church is in the heart of Galway city, with the city at its heart, our mission is to serve the community today as it has done for over 700 years. So we have another opportunity to serve and benefit the city and local businesses. The connection between the past and present is tangible as the church aligns with the dynamic and creative spirit of Galway and its people. I am very grateful to the team who worked so hard in securing this funding.”
The Gala Dinner Venues Investment Scheme is a part of Fáilte Ireland’s €150 million Platforms for Growth Programme, which falls under the Government’s Project Ireland 2040 strategy. The programme targets projects that have the greatest potential to grow tourism throughout the year.
