OPW confirm large increase in visitor numbers to Donegal heritage sites

Visitor numbers to heritage sites in Donegal under the remit of the Office of Public Works showed a marked increase in 2023.

Across the five sites in Donegal, a total of 164,969 visitors were recorded in 2023. That figure is up from 147,379 in 2022 – just short of a 12 per cent rise.

Numbers visiting Donegal Castle rose to 63,072 in 2023 with 55,476 having been recorded in 2022.

Glebe House and Gallery had 44,364 visitors last year with some 37,120 visiting Doe Castle.

Grianán of Aileach welcomed 17,919 visits in 2023 and 2,494 attended the Newmills Corn and Flax Mill.

Just last month, the OPW came out and confirmed that Grianán of Aileach was accessible during daylight hours.

That followed months of concern about access to the state-owned monument with visitors regularly finding it closed without prior notice.

A gate was installed at the ancient ring fort, which was extensively restored in the 1870s but is thought to have a history dating back to 1700 BC.

Locals complained that the gate has prevented access during sunrise and sunset to the fort and more than 1,800 people signed an online petition calling for the reinstatement of open access to the site.

There weee also calls last year for the visiting season at Newmills Corn and Flax Mill to be extended.

Glenswilly-based Fianna Fail Councillor Donal ‘Mandy’ Kelly said at the time that the current opening season was too short.

The number of recorded visitors last year at OPW heritage sites in Ireland exceeded 15.3 million, up from 15 million in 2022.

The OPW is responsible for caring, maintaining and operating 780 important heritage sites.

Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW, Patrick O’Donovan, said: “The 780 sites under the care of the Office of Public Works contribute to the local sense of place, the local economy and are great places for domestic and international tourists to enjoy.

“The 2023 visitor data clearly indicates that there is a strong interest in heritage tourism and that an increasing number of visitors regard Ireland’s heritage sites as great places to visit.”