Fáilte Ireland and Monaghan County Council have marked the official opening of the €1.2m Patrick Kavanagh Centre in Inniskeen with the launch of a five-year tourism development plan for Co Monaghan.
The state-of-the-art visitor centre and cultural space, dedicated to the life and works of the poet, is expected to attract up to 10,000 visitors per year by 2026.
The centre and the development of "The Kavanagh Country" experience forms a central part of the Monaghan Destination Experience Development Plan (DEDP) agreed by the tourism development authority and the council.
The key objectives of DEDP include: the development of hero and ancillary products to attract and retain visitors; creating strong signature, supporting and ancillary "saleable" experiences to form a sustainable basis for commercial development, and unlocking economic growth by progressing key tourism initiatives.
The plan also promotes the creation of conditions to encourage domestic and international visitors to engage actively in the community and strengthen tourism to create jobs.
In Association with
"Through Our Rural Future, the government’s ambitious rural development policy, we want to help communities to build on their own unique strengths," said Minister of Rural and Community Development Heather Humphreys.
"The community in Inniskeen have developed a masterplan and this government and my department are providing the funding to help them implement it. Projects like this are all about that ground-up approach to rural development.
"Without doubt, the Patrick Kavanagh Centre will be a fitting legacy for Monaghan’s most famous son."
She added: "This official opening, along with the launch of Fáilte Ireland’s five-year Destination and Experience Development Plan for Monaghan, is a significant step in the development of tourism in Monaghan and the north-east, which has so much to offer domestic and international visitors alike.”
Paul Kelly, CEO of Fáilte Ireland, said it was "an important day for the development of tourism in Monaghan, with the opening of the new Patrick Kavanagh Visitor Centre and the launch of the Monaghan Destination Experience Development plan.
"We look forward to working with Monaghan County Council and industry partners as we implement this plan to realise Monaghan's tourism potential.”
In his speech, Cllr Aidan Campbell, Cathaoirleach of Monaghan County Council, said “The Kavanagh Centre provides a wonderful context for exploring the unique landscape of Monaghan that inspired so much of his work.
"This landscape that shaped Kavanagh as a person and as a poet has changed little since his time and young and old can enjoy the Kavanagh Trail as part of the visitor experience.”
