Tri-agency approach to review visitor experience elements, including signage and interpretative requirements, at An Grianán of Aileach
Over the past several months, Fáilte Ireland, Donegal County Council and the Office of Public Works (OPW) have been working collaboratively to form a sustainable management and visitor experience stakeholder group. This group aims to review elements of the visitor experience, including signage and interpretative requirements, at An Grianán of Aileach.
Following a conservation management plan completed for the OPW, which provides a clear set of actions needed to maintain the site’s significance, a site visit was conducted last Thursday, 27th June. This visit marked a significant step in the collaborative efforts to guide and inform decisions regarding works on the monument. Several actions contained within the conservation management plan directly support the Inishowen Peninsula Destination Experience Development Plan (DEDP), which was launched in December 2022 by Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, and are regarded as a priority from the perspective of sustainable destination development.
Mary Heffernan, Head of National Monuments Ireland at the OPW, commented on the importance of the site, stating, “An Grianán of Aileach is a National Monument in State Ownership under the management of the Office of Public Works. Located at the summit of Greenan Mountain, this important monument is a hillfort with a stone cashel within the ramparts. The monument holds special significance and meaning in the locality. The OPW continues to work with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to protect and present this site.”
The sustainable development of tourism in the region is being shaped by a wide range of stakeholders, including local tourism groups, key agencies and community members dedicated to promoting the Inishowen Peninsula as a premier tourism destination while ensuring the region's natural and cultural heritage is respected and preserved.