€1.6million enhanced immersive visitor experience tells the human story of Irish emigration and the impact of the Great Famine
- New Dunbrody Famine Ship experience is expected to generate € 9 million and support 36 jobs in the first 10 years
The new Dunbrody Famine Ship visitor experience in New Ross, Co. Wexford will be officially opened today [30th August] by Taoiseach Simon Harris TD. This enhanced visitor experience follows an investment of €1.6million from the Department of Rural and Community Development, Fáilte Ireland, and Wexford County Council.
The upgraded experience tells the famine emigrant story, centred on a reproduction of an 1840s vessel that set sail for America during the Great Famine. The new immersive visitor experience uses a mix of digital interpretation and archive material, such as personal letters and records from the time, to bring to life one of the most pivotal events in Irish history, helping visitors to connect with the human stories of those who journeyed across the Atlantic.
Fáilte Ireland estimates that over a ten-year period, the Dunbrody Famine Ship experience has the potential to attract over 211,000 additional local, domestic and overseas visitors, generating over € 9 million in visitor expenditure for the local economy and supporting 36 jobs.
Speaking ahead of the launch, Taoiseach Simon Harris TD said:
The €1.6 million investment in this immersive experience not only helps to preserve the memory of the Great Famine but also strengthens our cultural heritage and local tourism economy. The Dunbrody Famine Ship experience will connect visitors with the human stories that shaped our past, while generating jobs and supporting the future prosperity of New Ross and the wider Wexford region. I commend all those involved in bringing this important project to life.”
Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, said:
“I would like to congratulate everyone involved in developing the Dunbrody Famine Ship visitor experience here in New Ross. As Minster for Rural and Community Development, it was a great honour to approve funding of €880,000 towards this phase of what is a larger commitment I have made of €5,560,000 to the wider New Ross Tourism Transformation Project. As you know, the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund delivers projects that will make a lasting difference in communities for generations to come. I think it’s fair to say this project absolutely fits that bill – it will be a game-changer for New Ross, and I cannot wait to see the full tourism transformation project completed.”
Minister for Tourism Catherine Martin TD said: “This new visitor experience will serve to engage and educate visitors from at home and abroad while also preserving the human stories of The Great Famine. Following this development, Fáilte Ireland estimates that the upgraded experience has the potential to attract over 211,000 additional local, domestic and overseas visitors which will help drive tourism in Ireland’s Ancient East”
Paul Kelly, CEO of Fáilte Ireland said:
“Investing in standout attractions and unique experiences is a key element of attracting international visitors to Ireland and encouraging domestic tourists to explore different areas of the country. Fáilte Ireland is proud to contribute €295,000 in capital investment to the overall € 1.6 million Dunbrody Famine Ship upgrade, delivered in collaboration with the Department of Rural and Community Development and Wexford County Council. This attraction was already a key part of the tourism offering in Wexford and Ireland’s Ancient East and these upgrades offer a new immersive visitor experience that tells the important story of our emigrant past, while also boosting the local economy. Fáilte Ireland estimates that over a ten-year period, the Dunbrody Famine Ship experience has the potential to generate over € 9 million in visitor expenditure for the local economy and support 36 jobs.”
Seán Connick, CEO of the JFK Trust, which manages the Dunbrody Famine Ship, said:
“We are thrilled with the investment in the Dunbrody Famine Ship Experience, which has elevated the attraction to a world-class level. The enhanced exhibition and immersive experience will help to position us as a must-see destination in Ireland’s Ancient East, significantly raising our profile internationally. We extend our gratitude to the Department of Rural and Community Development, Wexford County Council, and Fáilte Ireland for their support. This project is a great example of the successful collaboration between government agencies, the local authority, Fáilte Ireland and the John F. Kennedy Trust in developing New Ross as a Tourism Destination Town which will boost the economic potential for the town, create job opportunities and enhance the Tourism offering in the South East.”
Eamon Hore, Chief Executive at Wexford County Council said:
“We in Wexford County Council are delighted to be associated with the launch of this project. The Dunbrody Ship and Visitor Experience has been a very important part of the tourism offering in New Ross and in County Wexford for many years and this investment will consolidate and support its position in our local economy. The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF) delivered through the Department of Rural and Community Development has been a crucial mechanism for investment in our rural areas in recent years. The Dunbrody investment project is part of a wider tourism and economic development plan for New Ross, funded through the RRDF: The ‘New Ross Tourism Project’; which includes the High Hill Norman Gardens, completed, and opened in 2022; and the proposed Norman Visitor Centre which is at design stage. The delivery of this plan continues to establish the town as a destination that visitors want to come to; and communities want to live in. We in Wexford County Council are delighted to work closely with the Department and Fáilte Ireland and the JFK Trust in the delivery of these projects and we look forward to continuing to work collaboratively in the future.”
The Dunbrody Famine Ship has long been a popular visitor attraction for both domestic and international tourists in Ireland’s Ancient East. The new enhanced visitor experience offering ‘The Emigrant Trail’ received €880,000 in capital funding from the Rural Regeneration Development Fund, €295,000 in funding from Fáilte Ireland and €425,000 in funding from Wexford County Council.
This project is the second element to be delivered as part of the wider New Ross Tourism Transformation project, following the completion of the High Hill Norman Garden in 2022. The overall goal is to enhance New Ross’s tourism offerings and position the town as a must-visit destination in Ireland’s Ancient East. The project will also see the creation of a new world-class visitor attraction that will celebrate the Norman heritage of the town of New Ross.
