150,000 visitors to Newgrange in 2010
SUMMER SURGE IN NUMBERS AT ANCIENT SITE
Wednesday September 01 2010
DESPITE a terrible start to the year, including some of the worst weather the country has seen in decades and an ash cloud which left thousands of tourists stranded, visitors are still flocking to Brú na Bóinne and this summer has been busier than ever.
Despite visitor numbers being down by more than 16% in the first half of the year, a surge in numbers over the summer, helped by the large number of people deciding to holiday at home this year, has seen the centre attract almost 150,000 visitors in 2010 to date.
The year got off to a rocky start, when for the first time since it opened its doors to the public in 1997, the centre was forced to close for a week because of the bad weather conditions.
The snow and ice meant conditions were too treacherous for the bus to run between the centre and the Newgrange Monument.
'It was only a matter of four or five days but obviously that affected our numbers,' said Clare Tuffy from the Brú na Bóinne centre.
'Even visitors who struggled to get here weren't able to get to the actual monument itself. Then we had the ash cloud and that had a major affect on our numbers as well because a lot of tour groups cancelled.'
However, the summer has proved much more successful as numbers have improved dramatically.
'In the last month we have been inundated and have been busier than ever,' said Clare.
'Overall, after a very poor start, we are down just over 10,000 visitors on this time last year but we are hopeful of making that up by the end of the year.
'We are having a great summer and a lot of Irish families are visiting in particular, which is great to see people staying local.'
Given that so many people are choosing to stay in Ireland this year, Clare said the OPW's heritage card offers excellent value for families.
It costs €55 and offers a family free entry to all OPW-owned heritage sites in the country.
- Fiona MAGENNIS
