Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 February 2019
184. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of visitors who availed of guided tours of Maynooth Castle, Maynooth, County Kildare, in each of the years 2014 to 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5013/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe number of visitors to Maynooth Castle for the years in question were as follows:
| Year | Total Visitor Numbers to Maynooth Castle | Numbers that availed of a guided tour |
| 2014 | 25,268 | 15,384 |
| 2015 | 21,843 | 10,819 |
| 2016 | 21,892 | 10,091 |
| 2017 | 23,315 | 11,621 |
| 2018 (Provisional & subject to change) | 22,946 | 14,450 |
The visitor season at Maynooth Castle runs from mid-May to end September. In recent years the Castle has been open for five days a week for this period. During the 2018 visitor season Maynooth Castle was open to the public for seven days a week. While overall 2018 visitor numbers are slightly lower than in 2017 the numbers availing of a guided tour increased significantly from 11,621 in 2017 to 14,450 in 2018, an increase of almost 25%.
