Shannon Tourism Masterplan to transform tourism in Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands

Cavan County Council is one of 10 local authorities who contributed to a 10 year tourism development plan for the Shannon River.

The Shannon Tourism Masterplan, was launched today (Tuesday, March 2) by the Minister for Housing, Local Government & Heritage, Darragh O’Brien, and Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media Catherine Martin.

The launch was also overseen by John Mc Donagh, CEO of Waterways Ireland and Paul Kelly, CEO of Fáilte Ireland. The Shannon Tourism Masterplan is the first dedicated plan undertaken on the entire Shannon Region, setting out a framework for tourism development from 2020 to 2030.

A collaborative project led by Waterways Ireland, with Fáilte Ireland and 10 Local Authorities, it examines the potential for positioning the Shannon as a hub destination for international and domestic tourism.

The Masterplan identifies the scale and scope of this challenge and has identified the measures needed to develop the necessary infrastructure, products, and experiences to reposition the Shannon Region as a key tourism destination within Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands. Three key themes are identified in the plan, The Shannon, Mighty River of Ireland, Shannon Journey’s and Adventures and The Natural Timeless Shannon.

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Darragh O’Brien said it aims to “deliver a series of projects impacting on the economy and jobs whilst protecting and enhancing the valuable environmental, social and cultural values of the Shannon”.

Catherine Martin TD Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media said it provides a significant and extensive framework to grow tourism in Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands aligning strongly with government’s national policy to drive rural development through tourism.

The Masterplan contains an action plan of projects that require an estimated budget of €76.5 million over the ten years.

This capital expenditure will deliver on the seven priority areas in the plan and include interventions such as enhanced harbours and waterside public realms in Shannon towns; improved amenities for boat users and infrastructure for activity providers, clubs and communities to operate; a rejuvenated cruising experience along the Shannon; remote moorings and tranquillity zones along the Shannon and new recreational infrastructure including a substantial network of walking and cycling trails.

The plan has been developed in partnership between Fáilte Ireland, Waterways Ireland and 10 Local Authorities along the navigation which include Cavan, Leitrim, Roscommon, Longford, Westmeath, Offaly, Galway, Clare, Tipperary, Limerick City & County.

Three key themes are identified in the plan: The Shannon, Mighty River of Ireland; Shannon Journeys and Adventures; and The Natural Timeless Shannon.