A NEW visitor centre has been unveiled at an historic site which is home to the oldest megalithic tombs in Ireland.
Some €1.5m has been spent creating the state-of-the-art venue which showcases Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery in Co. Sligo.
Carrowmore is the largest and oldest collection of Neolithic tombs in Ireland, with over 30 surviving monuments dating back almost 6,000 years.
The new centre is designed to enhance visitors’ understanding of its archaeological significance.
Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery in Co. Sligo“This investment represents a significant enhancement to one of Ireland’s most important archaeological sites,” Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works, Kevin Moran said this week at the launch of the new centre.
“The improved visitor centre will allow us to present the story of Carrowmore in a more engaging and accessible way, while ensuring the long-term protection of this remarkable landscape,” he added.
The project was a collaboration between the Office of Public Works, Fáilte Ireland and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, with the funding allocated as part of the Tourism Capital Investment Programme.
Minister Moran and Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Christopher O’Sullivan were both on hand to launch the new centre.
“Carrowmore is a site of outstanding cultural and historical importance,” Minister O’Sullivan said.
“This investment ensures that its story can be shared with a wider audience, while supporting the conservation of our archaeological heritage for future generations.”
Carrowmore also forms part of the ‘Passage Tomb Landscape of Sligo’, which has been placed on Ireland’s Tentative List for UNESCO World Heritage status.
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