Pillar 3: Measured Tourism
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Continuing development of Kells as a tourist destination while ensuring that its inherent beauty and links to its heritage and history are maintained and developed.
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“The Office of Public Works is acutely conscious of the potential impact that sites can have, particularly in rural areas such as Kells.
The OPW have enjoyed a good and beneficial parnership with the local community in Kells. To date this has contributed positively in many ways namely; towards providing improved access to the National Monument of Kells Priory, providing signage and information locally about the priory and its significance, supporting the implementation of an app with the associated infrastructure and providing economic benefits in the local community from increased tourism. In 2016 this partnership led to the establishment of a guide service in the Priory over the summer months. The site has been promoted by both organisations and the number of visitors to the site have increased annually. In 2018 KREE initiated guided tours of the mill, and the café was in a position to offer extended opening arrangements. The Office of Public Works looks forward to a continued partnership with the community in Kells.”
Breda Lynch, OPW
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What Progress has the Village already made under this Pillar?
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Kells Village, primarily through the activities of KREE has established a positive working relationship with the Office of Public Works (OPW) resulting in the enhancement of Kells Village as a destination of choice for tourists. The net effect of this collaboration has been a huge increase in the number of visitors to Kells in recent times. The OPW’s figures for 2018 indicate that the Mill and Priory had a minimum of 4500 visitors to date in 2018. This represents a year-on year increase of some 20%.
The table (seen here) details some of the activities and actions already complete. Kells village was runner-up in the Community Tourism category in the IPB Pride of Place competition in 2018.