Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 31 January 2012
257 Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide figures, by individual location, for total annual visitors to the Office of Public Works heritage sites in 2009, 2010 and 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4920/12]
View answerThe table below shows visitor numbers for the sites managed by Office of Public Works where a guide service is provided.
In 2009 total visitor numbers were 3,264,969
in 2010 total visitor numbers were 3,267,772
In 2011 total visitor numbers were 3,440,901
These totals do not include visitor statistics for sites such where the public can freely access elements of the site without the visitor centre e.g. Glendalough Monastic site, the Battle of the Boyne site, Mellifont Abbey. These sites may be accessed freely without entering the Visitor Centres. Statistics for seasonal sites such as Loughcrew, Gallarus Oratory or Mellifont Abbey refer to the numbers of visitors to the site when the guide service is present.
These visitor statistics relate to times when sites are manned by OPW Guide Services (Mar./Apr. to Sept., at many sites). The total number of visitors is, therefore, understated, as a lot of tourists visit a number of these sites in the off season.
|
Site Name |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
|
Altamont Gardens |
57,975 |
62,455 |
47,514 |
|
Ardfert Cathedral |
4,315 |
4,525 |
5,009 |
|
Athenry Castle |
8,944 |
11,504 |
9,303 |
|
Aughnanure Castle |
26,555 |
23,976 |
21,825 |
|
Ballyhack Castle |
1,966 |
2,339 |
2,464 |
|
Barryscourt Castle |
9,137 |
9,774 |
11,226 |
|
Battle of the Boyne |
41,799 |
40,334 |
38,846 |
|
Blasket Centre |
38,627 |
42,896 |
41,717 |
|
Boyle Abbey |
7,008 |
6,736 |
6,201 |
|
Brú na Boinne: Visitor Centre |
40,406 |
37,071 |
43,828 |
|
Brú na Boinne: Knowth |
51,941 |
49,414 |
51,962 |
|
Brú na Boinne: Newgrange |
130,083 |
122,785 |
132,760 |
|
Cahir |
54,976 |
52,037 |
59,822 |
|
Carrowmore |
25,077 |
23,177 |
23,073 |
|
Casino Marino |
6,502 |
6,425 |
12,047 |
|
Céide Fields |
28,253 |
26,196 |
25,885 |
|
Charles Fort |
58,754 |
63,608 |
67,247 |
|
Clonmacnoise |
144,565 |
133,015 |
134,034 |
|
Corlea |
5,600 |
5,691 |
4,937 |
|
Derrynane House |
21,330 |
21,576 |
23,209 |
|
Desmond Castle |
10,128 |
9,331 |
9,681 |
|
Desmond Hall |
2,823 |
3,324 |
3,702 |
|
Donegal Castle |
39,133 |
36,637 |
36,678 |
|
Dublin Castle |
127,740 |
129,722 |
141,849 |
|
Dún Aonghasa |
107,667 |
109,351 |
107,244 |
|
Dungarvan Castle |
6,622 |
9,730 |
9,983 |
|
Dunmore Cave |
28,173 |
25,939 |
30,024 |
|
Emo Court |
6,092 |
5,589 |
5,776 |
|
Ennis Friary |
9,368 |
0 |
0 |
|
Ferns Castle |
4,509 |
5,081 |
5,314 |
|
Gallarus |
44,000 |
44,004 |
41,024 |
|
Garinish Island |
49,639 |
53,945 |
53,102 |
|
Glebe House and Gallery |
22,148 |
26,377 |
24,321 |
|
Glendalough Visitor Centre |
80,336 |
70,081 |
80,726 |
|
Hill of Tara |
11,441 |
12,878 |
11,628 |
|
J F Kennedy Arboretum (inc-seasonal card user numbers) |
68,931 |
67,852 |
86,007 |
|
Jerpoint Abbey |
23,885 |
20,555 |
21,534 |
|
Kilkenny Castle |
170,865 |
192,777 |
206,277 |
|
Kilmainham Gaol |
285,974 |
278,108 |
294,095 |
|
Listowel |
2,232 |
2,257 |
2,182 |
|
Loughcrew |
7,857 |
7,340 |
7,491 |
|
Main Guard |
9,409 |
6,979 |
6,198 |
|
Maynooth Castle |
7,081 |
8,799 |
9,444 |
|
Mellifont Abbey |
12,499 |
14,315 |
14,224 |
|
Newmills |
4,001 |
3,746 |
3,298 |
|
Ormond Castle |
8,218 |
8,108 |
9,539 |
|
Parke’s Castle |
14,283 |
14,765 |
13,460 |
|
Pearse Museum |
13,769 |
16,669 |
16,528 |
|
Pearse’s Cottage |
5,064 |
6,194 |
5,609 |
|
Phoenix Park |
83,615 |
101,005 |
121,487 |
|
Portumna Castle |
15,393 |
15,428 |
14,073 |
|
Rathfarnham Castle |
7,206 |
6,232 |
9,506 |
|
Reginald’s Tower |
12,305 |
13,065 |
29,368 |
|
Rock of Cashel |
221,481 |
204,270 |
233,038 |
|
Roscrea Heritage |
5,626 |
4,730 |
3,402 |
|
Ross Castle |
22,619 |
20,354 |
25,509 |
|
Skellig Michael |
10,642 |
12,343 |
9,750 |
|
Scattery Island |
1,362 |
1,584 |
1,344 |
|
Sligo Abbey |
10,403 |
9,623 |
10,706 |
|
St. Audoen’s Church |
30,210 |
33,837 |
25,927 |
|
St. Mary’s Abbey |
1,144 |
2,297 |
2,816 |
|
St. Mary’s Church, Gowran |
2,592 |
2,544 |
2,987 |
|
Swiss Cottage |
19,089 |
22,319 |
20,939 |
|
Tintern Abbey |
6,047 |
6,093 |
7,169 |
|
Trim Castle |
61,240 |
59,416 |
59,127 |
|
Castletown |
10,353 |
11,794 |
11,432 |
|
Farmleigh |
245,937 |
269,904 |
315,464 |
|
Aras |
5,000 |
5,500 |
6,010 |
|
Botanics — Gardens |
545,005 |
529,447 |
501,000 |
|
Totals |
3,264,969 |
3,267,772 |
3,440,901 |
