8 July 2019
By Bryan Smyth
bryan@TheCork.ie
Fianna Fáil TD for Cork North West Aindrias Moynihan has called on the Office of Public Works to consider expanding the options on the Heritage Card so that tourists and visitors from across the country can visit heritage sites in Cork and around Ireland
The current card is valid for one year but a tourist option is being explored.
Deputy Moynihan explained, “We have almost 100 designated heritage sites across Ireland, including six here in Cork. These prove particularly important as this time of year when families are looking for ideas for day trips during the summer holidays and tourists are over visiting the country.
“At the moment the Office of Public Works only offers an annual Heritage Card, which some people may find too expensive, as they may not be in a position to use it across the year. I asked the Minister with Responsibility for the OPW whether any plans were in place to look at other package options for tourists and other visitors.
“The proposed Holiday Card, which will give access to Ireland’s heritage sites for four weeks, is a step in the right direction and will suit tourists, it may not fully cater for people who live in Ireland and may want to visit these sites outside of the four-week timeframe.
“I would like the OPW to examine the possibility of a visit card – whereby people could pay for a certain number of visits, but which would be at their discretion as to when they use them. They could create a card which would cover 5 or 10 visits per year, which could be used across the year. I believe this would fill a gap in the current market and would hopefully encourage more people to explore our national heritage sites”
OPW Heritage sites in Cork:
- Barryscourt Castle, Carrigtwohill
- Charles Fort, Kinsale
- Desmond Castle, Kinsale
- Doneraile House & Garden
- Fota Arboretum and Gardens, Carrigtwohill
- Garinish Island, Bantry
