Loop Head Lighthouse will reopen to the public later this year following a successful trial scheme that resulted in an estimated 17,000 people visiting the historic west Clare landmark during an 11-week period in 2011.
The announcement was made this week by Clare County Council which, along with Shannon Development, Loop Head Tourism and the Commissioners of Irish Lights (CIL), also is seeking suitable consultants to research, design and implement an exhibition and interpretation plan to further expand the tourism offering at the 19th century lighthouse. The Request for Tender was advertised on the e-tenders website last week.
Clare County Council anticipates that up to 10 jobs will be created when the Lighthouse reopens this summer.
Loop Head Lighthouse, located at the mouth of the Shannon Estuary, is steeped in history and rich in maritime heritage with its origins dating back to the 1670s. The existing tower style lighthouse was constructed in 1854 and was operated and maintained by a keeper who lived within the lighthouse compound. In January 1991, the lighthouse was converted to automatic operation, and today is in the care of an attendant and is also monitored by the CIL.
In July 2011, Clare County Council, with the support and cooperation of CIL, Shannon Development and Loop Head Tourism, opened the Lighthouse as a visitor attraction on a trial basis. The trial was a tremendous success with the Lighthouse attracting 16,775 visitors during the 11-week opening period.
Cllr. Oliver Garry, Chairperson of the West Clare Economic Task Force noted that the trial opening enabled the project partners to gain valuable feedback regarding the operation of the site and the impact on tourism in the area.
“Feedback was received through comments made directly to the guides, through ‘mystery shopper’ visits to the Lighthouse and through surveys of local tourism businesses. The majority of tourism businesses in the area reported a positive impact on their season. It is estimated that the opening of the Lighthouse was worth approximately €400,000 to the local economy during the trial period”, he added.
Cllr. Garry noted that the overall objective of the Lighthouse project will be to create an interesting and memorable visitor experience. He continued: “It is anticipated that the content of the exhibition and interpretation plan should draw on the unique tourism resources of the area in order to produce a distinct experience that will enable Loop Head to maintain and grow a competitive advantage in tourism terms. A key objective of the overall project, therefore, is to increase bed nights and visitor spend in the area.”
Ruairi Deane, Tourism Product Development Executive with Shannon Development commented: “We are delighted to bring our expertise in tourism product development to this unique visitor attraction through our involvement in the next phase of the project in partnership with Clare County Council. We believe the new exhibition will further enhance the tourism product offering at Loop Head Lighthouse and will continue to draw additional visitors to this spectacular area of West Clare.”
“The 2011 trial opening scheme exceeded expectations and complemented a range of initiatives that we have undertaken during the past year in West Clare, including the new loop walks in Lissycasey and Kilkee”, added Mr. Deane.
Meanwhile, Clare VEC has launched its range of courses for spring term covering the period from January to April 2012, including a specific programme around local history and tourism being offered in Kilkee. Clare VEC says the courses will be directly relevant to persons seeking employment at the Loop Head Lighthouse in the summer of 2012.
According to Mike Ryan, VEC Co-ordinator for Back to Education Initiative (BTEI): “These courses are for adults who wish to develop their skills and knowledge to prepare themselves to enter or return to the workplace or a learning environment. These courses are free to anyone who has not completed their Junior or Leaving Cert, Social Welfare recipients, other dependents or medical card holders and their dependents. These courses may suit anyone wishing to become involved in the Loop Head Lighthouse initiative this year”.
Further information on the BTEI initiative is available from Mike Ryan of Clare VEC at 065 6843633 or the Adult Education Office of the Clare VEC at 065 6824819).
Visit www.loophead.ie or www.clare.ie for more information on Loop Head Lighthouse and the Loop Head Peninsula.
The announcement was made this week by Clare County Council which, along with Shannon Development, Loop Head Tourism and the Commissioners of Irish Lights (CIL), also is seeking suitable consultants to research, design and implement an exhibition and interpretation plan to further expand the tourism offering at the 19th century lighthouse. The Request for Tender was advertised on the e-tenders website last week.
Clare County Council anticipates that up to 10 jobs will be created when the Lighthouse reopens this summer.
Loop Head Lighthouse, located at the mouth of the Shannon Estuary, is steeped in history and rich in maritime heritage with its origins dating back to the 1670s. The existing tower style lighthouse was constructed in 1854 and was operated and maintained by a keeper who lived within the lighthouse compound. In January 1991, the lighthouse was converted to automatic operation, and today is in the care of an attendant and is also monitored by the CIL.
In July 2011, Clare County Council, with the support and cooperation of CIL, Shannon Development and Loop Head Tourism, opened the Lighthouse as a visitor attraction on a trial basis. The trial was a tremendous success with the Lighthouse attracting 16,775 visitors during the 11-week opening period.
Cllr. Oliver Garry, Chairperson of the West Clare Economic Task Force noted that the trial opening enabled the project partners to gain valuable feedback regarding the operation of the site and the impact on tourism in the area.
“Feedback was received through comments made directly to the guides, through ‘mystery shopper’ visits to the Lighthouse and through surveys of local tourism businesses. The majority of tourism businesses in the area reported a positive impact on their season. It is estimated that the opening of the Lighthouse was worth approximately €400,000 to the local economy during the trial period”, he added.
Cllr. Garry noted that the overall objective of the Lighthouse project will be to create an interesting and memorable visitor experience. He continued: “It is anticipated that the content of the exhibition and interpretation plan should draw on the unique tourism resources of the area in order to produce a distinct experience that will enable Loop Head to maintain and grow a competitive advantage in tourism terms. A key objective of the overall project, therefore, is to increase bed nights and visitor spend in the area.”
Ruairi Deane, Tourism Product Development Executive with Shannon Development commented: “We are delighted to bring our expertise in tourism product development to this unique visitor attraction through our involvement in the next phase of the project in partnership with Clare County Council. We believe the new exhibition will further enhance the tourism product offering at Loop Head Lighthouse and will continue to draw additional visitors to this spectacular area of West Clare.”
“The 2011 trial opening scheme exceeded expectations and complemented a range of initiatives that we have undertaken during the past year in West Clare, including the new loop walks in Lissycasey and Kilkee”, added Mr. Deane.
Meanwhile, Clare VEC has launched its range of courses for spring term covering the period from January to April 2012, including a specific programme around local history and tourism being offered in Kilkee. Clare VEC says the courses will be directly relevant to persons seeking employment at the Loop Head Lighthouse in the summer of 2012.
According to Mike Ryan, VEC Co-ordinator for Back to Education Initiative (BTEI): “These courses are for adults who wish to develop their skills and knowledge to prepare themselves to enter or return to the workplace or a learning environment. These courses are free to anyone who has not completed their Junior or Leaving Cert, Social Welfare recipients, other dependents or medical card holders and their dependents. These courses may suit anyone wishing to become involved in the Loop Head Lighthouse initiative this year”.
Further information on the BTEI initiative is available from Mike Ryan of Clare VEC at 065 6843633 or the Adult Education Office of the Clare VEC at 065 6824819).
Visit www.loophead.ie or www.clare.ie for more information on Loop Head Lighthouse and the Loop Head Peninsula.
