Clonmacnoise had more visits than newgrange in 2014

More people visited Clonmacnoise than Newgrange in 2014, the Office of Public Works (OPW) has revealed.

Offaly’s leading monastic site ranked eighth in the OPW’s top 20 most visited sites last year and is due to receive a CIE Awards of Excellence for 2014.

In 2014, Clonmacnoise had 149,472 visitors, up by over 10,000 on 2013 figures when 139,413 people visited the site. Newgrange was ranked ninth with 139,173 visitors.

The OPW’s most visited site was the National Botanic Gardens in Dublin which had 541,946 visitors.

Minister of State with special responsibility for the OPW Simon Harris described it as another very successful year in terms of visitor numbers to OPW managed heritage sites.

Welcoming the publication of the 2014 visitor numbers, Minister Harris said: “I would like to congratulate the staff of the OPW, whose hard work and professionalism not only protects and safeguards our most iconic monuments, but also offers a superb visitor experience that is unparalleled.”

“This is evidenced by the seven OPW sites which are due to receive CIE Awards of Excellence for 2014. The sites involved are Glendalough, Clonmacnoise, Bru na Boinne, Dun Aonghasa, Dublin Castle, Kilmainham Goal and Boyle Abbey,” he revealed.

Minister Harris said: “My office has also embraced new initiatives and technologies in its management of the heritage estate, from the adoption of social media to making appropriate venues available for civil ceremonies.”

2014 saw the OPW introduce an arrangement with the Friends of Manx National Heritage providing for free admission to OPW heritage sites on a reciprocal basis. Such arrangement follows on from the granting of free admission to members of English heritage, with a number of similar proposals currently under examination.

In addition, a number of OPW heritage sites continue to be key players in the highly acclaimed ‘Wild Atlantic Way’.

In conclusion, Minister Harris said: “The figures released today clearly demonstrate that OPW’s investment in our national heritage and its openness to change is reaping dividends with the welcome increases in visitor numbers.”