Brian Hayes, Minister of State at the Department of Finance with special responsibility for the Office of Public Works, announced recently that the ‘Free Day’ on the first Wednesday of every month is to continue in 2012.
The Minister said: “I have decided to continue this initiative as it has proved hugely successful with almost 20,000 additional people visiting our Historic Properties and National Monuments in the last six months of 2011, boosting local economies with increased numbers. The tourism sector will be of critical importance to the re-establishment of financial stability in this country in years to come. I am confident that the excellent array of significant OPW heritage sites will contribute to this process both through their excellent visitor facilities and the value for money that they represent”.
The Minister concluded: “I am delighted that I can continue with this initiative in these very challenging economic times and due to the success of the ‘Free Day’ in 2011 I would urge people to visit www.heritageireland.ie to get the most up to date information on the various sites, many of which are very busy sites and especially so on the free day.
Visitor Numbers for Free Wednesday
SITES with Admission Charges TOTAL JULY-DEC 2010 for First Wednesday TOTAL JULY-DEC 2011 for First Wednesday Increase in numbers for free Wednesday % increase
KILMAINHAM GAOL 3,966 6,420 2,454 62%
KILKENNY CASTLE 3,640 5,743 2,103 58%
ROCK OF CASHEL 3,487 5,339 1,852 53%
DUBLIN CASTLE 1,813 3,426 1,613 89%
BATTLE OF THE BOYNE 711 1,722 1,011 142%
DESMOND CASTLE 163 1,163 1,000 613%
CAHIR CASTLE 990 1,975 985 99%
DONEGAL CASTLE 620 1,502 882 142%
REGINALD’S TOWER 276 955 679 246%
SWISS COTTAGE 434 1,065 631 145%
DERRYNANE HOUSE 302 835 533 176%
GLENDALOUGH 929 1,408 479 52%
CHARLES FORT 937 1,398 461 49%
CASTLETOWN 937 1,351 414 44%
JFK 1,120 1,499 379 34%
TINTERN 73 447 374 512%
ATHENRY CASTLE 100 439 339 339%
NEWGRANGE 2,175 2,509 334 15%
PORTUMNA 172 496 324 188%
KNOWTH 988 1,310 322 33%
ROSCREA 26 173 147 565%
JERPOINT 349 477 128 37%
AUGHNANURE CASTLE 541 668 127 23%
PEARSES COTTAGE 73 147 74 101%
