projects
- - Destination Masterplan - Concepts development - Costings - 5-year action plan
The Grace O'Malley Trail Masterplan
The Clew Bay Destination and Experience Development Plan (Published by Fáilte Ireland in
November 2021) sets out an ambitious public-private programme of work to position the region as a mustvisit destination along the Wild Atlantic Way. The plan presents actions under specific themes unique to the Clew Bay area which were informed by a robust public consultation. One of the themes identified as presenting significant potential to destination is that of Grace O’Malley as it provides an opportunity to tell a story that is applicable to the entire area and to use it to disperse visitors across Clew Bay.
The Grace O’Malley Visitor Centre (Louisburgh), Murrisk Abbey, Clare Island Castle, Clare Island Abbey, Rockfleet Castle, Kildavnet Castle, Burrishoole Abbey, Castleaffy, Ballintubber Abbey and Westport House all portray aspects of her story and form the blueprint of a compelling visitor trail that follows the remarkable story of this 16th century leader.
In 2021, Fáilte Ireland awarded Westport Estate €20.2m in funding towards a number of capital projects on the estate, including the development of an immersive Grace O’Malley Visitor Experience. This investment will attract incremental visitor numbers, both domestic and international, to Westport to explore her fascinating life but it will also play a vital
role in dispersing visitors about the region to connect with the physical remains of her legacy at the sites referenced above.
The Grace O’Malley Trail is identified as a hero project within the Clew Bay DEDP, one which has the potential to be a significant catalyst for tourism growth in the region – in terms of visitor numbers, dwell time and visitor spend.
Mirador Media Ltd was appointed by South West Mayo Development Company CLG to develop a masterplan for the proposed Grace O’Malley Trail which sets out the vision, defines the visitor experience, maps the trail and identifies capital and interpretive requirements for each site and the wider offering.
Having reviewed the masterplan, Fáilte Ireland determined that there was scope to include innovative themed bus shelters; artistic murals depicting scenes from Grace O'Malley's life; 'welcome to the destination' signage on key access routes into Clew Bay; playground installations that reflect aspects of her life; and more.
With this in mind, Mirador was subsequenbtly tasked with the identification of potential sites for sense of place interventions and the development of fully costed concepts.