The Carrick-on-Suir Heritage Centre embarked on a major transformation following the award of €352,647 in grant funding under Fáilte Ireland’s Regenerative Tourism and Placemaking Scheme, co-funded by the EU Just Transition Fund and the Government of Ireland. The Tides of Time project has created an immersive interpretive experience that positions the Heritage Centre as a dynamic cultural and visitor hub at the meeting point of Tipperary, Waterford, and Kilkenny.
The initiative is designed to position the Heritage Centre as a vibrant cultural and visitor hub, supporting the town’s long-term regeneration and tourism goals. It blends storytelling, history, interactive technology, and local narratives, while also incorporating sustainability and biodiversity features.
Features include immersive audio-visual displays, oral history recordings, dynamic exhibition spaces, and a newly designed book and gift retail experience. The project has created a flexible literary and community space to host cultural events, performances, and future artist-led programming, helping ensure the Heritage Centre evolves as a living space, shaped by local voices.
Sarah-Jane Cleary, Commercial and Tourism Manager for Carrick-on-Suir and Project Manager for the initiative, said:
“This project represents a huge opportunity for Carrick-on-Suir. We wanted to create a Heritage Centre experience that is welcoming, dynamic, and community-driven, one that honours our town’s past while inspiring future connections. The EU Just Transition Fund and Fáilte Ireland’s support allowed us to build something truly special for both local people and visitors.”
Tony Musiol, Chair of COSTEDC (Carrick-on-Suir Tourism and Economic Development Community), added:
“We are delighted that Carrick-on-Suir is among the projects chosen for this important round of EU Just Transition funding. This initiative plays a key role in Carrick’s tourism growth and in deepening local pride. It is an exciting step forward for the town’s regeneration.”
Long-time COSDA members Chairman Niall Walsh and Patsy Fitzgerald expressed their delight, having dedicated many years of voluntary effort through COSDA to support and grow the Heritage Centre for the benefit of the local community.
The project was completed in May 2026, with grant funding of €352,647 awarded under the EU Just Transition Fund, with local match funding supporting delivery of the project.
The Tides of Time Heritage Centre has been developed through Fáilte Ireland’s Regenerative Tourism and Placemaking Scheme, which is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union, through the EU Just Transition Fund.
Project Co-Funding Amount: €352,647
Project Start Date: 22 July 2025
Project End Date: 31 May 2026
The Heritage Centre Redevelopment Project
- Immersive audio-visual displays and oral history recordings.
- Dynamic exhibition spaces reflecting Carrick-on-Suir’s heritage.
- A redesigned book and gift shop.
- A flexible literary and community space for events, performances, and artist-led programming.
- Celebrate Carrick-on-Suir’s Heritage
Preserve and share local stories, traditions, and voices through interactive interpretation and oral archives. - Drive Regeneration and Tourism Growth
Strengthen Carrick-on-Suir’s position as a gateway town within Ireland’s Ancient East, boosting visitor numbers and community pride. - Foster Community Engagement
Provide inclusive spaces for cultural events, storytelling, and collaboration, ensuring the Heritage Centre evolves as a living community hub. - Incorporate Sustainability
Embed biodiversity and sustainable design practices, contributing to Carrick-on-Suir’s long-term environmental and cultural resilience.
The Tides of Time project at Carrick-on-Suir Heritage Centre is a major new interpretive initiative made possible through EU Just Transition funding and Fáilte Ireland’s Regenerative Tourism and Placemaking Scheme. The project involves transforming the Heritage Centre into a dynamic cultural and visitor hub that reflects the town’s rich history, creativity, and community spirit.
Key elements of the project include:
- Developing a new immersive interpretive experience that blends storytelling, local narratives, history, and interactive technology.
- Designing a suite of engaging features such as audio-visual installations, oral history recordings, and flexible exhibition spaces.
- Creating a redesigned book and gift retail offering to help sustain the Centre’s future operations.
- Establishing a multi-use literary and community space to host cultural events, performances, and artist-led programming.
- Embedding sustainability and biodiversity principles throughout the design.
This work positions the Heritage Centre at the heart of Carrick-on-Suir’s regeneration strategy and strengthens the town’s role as a key gateway to the Three Counties region.
Upon completion in May 2026, the project has delivered:
- A fully reimagined Heritage Centre serving as the town’s primary cultural and visitor hub.
- Immersive interpretive installations, including interactive displays, historical storytelling features, and community-sourced oral histories.
- Dynamic exhibition spaces capable of hosting rotating content and future programming.
- A newly designed retail area featuring books and locally inspired gifts to enhance visitor experience and Centre sustainability.
- A flexible cultural space for events, performances, workshops, and community gatherings.
- High-quality marketing and events strategy to amplify the Centre’s reach regionally and nationally.
These outputs ensure that the Heritage Centre becomes a living, evolving destination shaped by local voices and creative input.
- Deepens local pride and identity by celebrating Carrick-on-Suir’s stories, heritage, and people.
- Provides new cultural and educational spaces for schools, community groups, and artists.
- Supports community cohesion by creating a shared place for events, performances, and intergenerational storytelling.
- Captures and preserves local memory through oral histories and community-led interpretation.
- Strengthens Carrick-on-Suir as a strategic gateway town at the meeting point of Tipperary, Waterford, and Kilkenny.
- Boosts tourism footfall and dwell time, contributing to local business activity and job creation.
- Supports sustainable economic regeneration aligned with EU Just Transition goals.
- Positions the town on the Ireland’s Ancient East visitor trail as a distinctive, high-quality heritage stop.
- Long-Term Impact for the Midlands Just Transition Region
- Demonstrates how regenerative tourism can revitalise smaller towns through heritage-led innovation.
- Creates a model for community-driven placemaking that can be replicated elsewhere in the Just Transition territory.
- Ensures that the benefits of the investment endure through enhanced visitor experiences, strengthened community infrastructure, and sustainable economic activity.
Project Description
The Tides of Time Heritage Centre Redevelopment Project transformed the Carrick-on-Suir Heritage Centre into an immersive cultural and visitor destination through an investment of €352,647 under Fáilte Ireland’s Regenerative Tourism and Placemaking Scheme, co-funded by the European Union’s Just Transition Fund and the Government of Ireland.
Completed in May 2026, the project reimagines the Heritage Centre as a vibrant hub where history, storytelling and community come together. Through immersive interpretation, interactive technology and local voices, the Centre celebrates Carrick-on-Suir’s heritage while supporting sustainable tourism, regeneration and community engagement.
Sarah-Jane Cleary, Commercial and Tourism Manager and Project Manager, said:
“This project represents a huge opportunity for Carrick-on-Suir. We wanted to create a Heritage Centre experience that is welcoming, dynamic and community-driven, one that honours our town’s past while inspiring future connections. The EU Just Transition Fund and Fáilte Ireland’s support allowed us to build something truly special for both local people and visitors.”
Tony Musiol, Chair of COSTEDC, said:
“We are delighted that Carrick-on-Suir is among the projects chosen for this important round of EU Just Transition funding. This initiative plays a key role in Carrick’s tourism growth and in deepening local pride. It is an exciting step forward for the town’s regeneration.”
Project Aims
The project aimed to:
Create an engaging, accessible heritage experience celebrating Carrick-on-Suir’s history and stories.
Strengthen Carrick-on-Suir as a cultural destination and gateway to the Three Counties region.
Support the town’s long-term regeneration through sustainable tourism and placemaking.
Provide flexible community and cultural spaces for events, learning and creative programming.
Embed sustainability and biodiversity within the redevelopment.
Project Results
The redevelopment has delivered:
An immersive visitor experience featuring audio-visual interpretation, interactive displays and oral histories.
Flexible exhibition and community spaces for cultural events, workshops and performances.
A redesigned book and gift shop supporting the Centre’s long-term sustainability.
A welcoming cultural hub that celebrates local heritage while strengthening community engagement and visitor experiences.
A landmark tourism attraction contributing to the regeneration of Carrick-on-Suir and the wider Just Transition region.
Project Funding: €352,647
Project Duration: 22 July 2025 – 31 May 2026
Co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the EU Just Transition Fund under Fáilte Ireland’s Regenerative Tourism and Placemaking Scheme.
For more information about the EU Just Transition Fund visit:
