Lough Derg ‘an international lake destination’

Provision of a “fleet of attractively designed electric day boats” and a “floating village” on Lough Derg are among the aspirations of an ambitious new tourism plan for Tipperary.

Presented to councillors at the October meeting of Tipperary Co Council, ‘Tipperary Transforming’ sets out a wide range of projects aimed at significantly boosting tourism throughout the county over the next 10 years.


A “self-drive eco boat” visitor attraction is proposed for Ballina. The concept is based on a similar project in Copenhagen and the popular Wee Red Boats on Lough Erne at Enniskillen. ‘Tipperary Transforming’ identifies Ballina as having significant jetty space to develop the boating concept, which the report states could be run under private management or a community-run management model, the aim of which would be to get more visitors out on the water. The plan envisages a one-year timeframe for delivery of the concept.


Lough Derg is to be promoted as an “International Lake Destination” under the plan, which also aspires to provide a “floating village” visitor attraction. Again based on similar attractions developed abroad - in Seoul and Rostock - the Tipperary Transforming plan proposes Ballina, Dromineer or Garrykennedy as suitable locations for this floating cultural, educational, entertainment and food experience.


“The concept is a powerful contemporary design statement housing an all-year round modular visitor offering unlike anything else in Ireland,” the Tipperary Transforming report states. “Part leading heritage and cultural attraction, part floating food market, part high-end retail destination, part modular hotel; all within an artificial solar-powered floating island. The floating island thematically harmonises Ireland's past, present and future. An iconic sustainable destination symbolising the revitalisation of Lough Derg.”


The report suggests adding an auditorium or conference hall with capacity for more than 500 people to the island. A 10-year timeframe is mooted for delivery of the project.
Tipperary Transforming proposes further enhancement of the Lough Derg visitor experience by building on the potential of the Lookout viewing point near Portroe and “the proposed Castlelough Waterside Park with its outdoor trails and floating marina”.


Elsewhere the new plan speaks of promoting Nenagh's Historic and Cultural Quarter, a core theme of which would be development of the old gaol cell block as “an immersive attraction to be built on the theme of ‘Crime, Punishment and Repentance’.” Enhancing the visitor experience at Nenagh Castle and regeneration of Banba Square is also mentioned.
 

‘IRELAND'S LARGEST WOODEN CHURCH’

The rich ecclesiastical history of Lorrha is also mentioned in Tipperary Transforming, which sets out two distinct phases for the village, including “the construction of Ireland's largest wooden church, employing traditional methods and material, in which the slow meticulous build will involve hundreds of volunteers and become a national story”. Also envisaged is “the creation of a medieval village” in Lorrha.


Enhancing the entrance to Roscrea Castle and Demesne is furthermore mentioned in the new plan, along with developing a greenway connection between Birr, Roscrea and Portumna, and further developing the Butler Trail between Roscrea, Nenagh and other towns around the county.


Produced by Alan Hill Tourism Development Ltd and John Ruddie Consulting in association with the council and Tipperary Tourism, Tipperary Transforming aims to bring local tourism from “comfortable mid table to the Premier League of Irish tourism in the next decade”. It contains an “ambitious, yet achievable” 10-point action plan aimed at increasing the number of people employed in Tipperary's tourism economy by 50%. A 100% increase in the number of overnighting visitors in the county is targeted, along with a 75% growth in international visitors, with a €150 million investment in tourism and related offerings within the county over the coming decade. The Tipperary Transforming authors stress that their plan assumes that the tourism industry will fully recover from the Covid-19 setback over the coming years.“This plan, due to its longer-term view and focus, deals with the county in a period post Covid-19 and one that has returned to a stronger base.”