Jimmy Deenihan, Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, has announced that Westport is one of three towns to take part in a pilot Heritage Towns Initiative.
The core aim of the Heritage Towns Initiative will be to conserve and protect, and find new uses where required for the built heritage of the participating historic towns while also maximising the economic value of tourism in each location.
Minster Deenihan said: “Fáilte Ireland and the Heritage Council will now commence working on the introduction of this pilot scheme in these three towns.”
Minister of State for Tourism and Sport Michael Ring, welcomed the announcement, saying: “I believe this new initiative will further promote Ireland as a cultural and heritage destination worth visiting and thereby entice more visitors in to the country who have an interest in culture and heritage.”
