Community-driven peatland interpretation

Case study

Lullymore Heritage and Discovery Park, Ireland

Site

Lullymore, in Co. Kildare

Plan

Lullymore Heritage and Discovery Park is an example of a community driven interpretive project. The project, which began in the early 1990s, uses interpretive provision as a way of providing local employment and training opportunities in the tourism, horticulture and construction skills.

Do

Lullymore Heritage and Discovery Park includes reconstructions of typical Irish homesteads, a heritage garden, a woodland walk with interpretation, a train ride to visit the bog site (still being cut by Bord na Mona), a tearoom, crazy golf, adventure playground and indoor play centre.

Review

It receives more than 30,000 visitors each year and offers educational visits to schools. The project has to be economically sustainable. Capital projects have mainly been supported through grants but entrance fees and sales cover the ongoing running costs.

The community groups have had to adapt to their situation. Originally their aim was to attract foreign visitors, but by mid- to late 1990s they realised that they needed to look again at their market. The focus moved to attracting the domestic market, which now accounts for around 90% of their visitors.

A recent study indicated that visitors enjoy the Park but that few return for a second visit. The Park is now focusing on providing facilities for children and families (adventure playground, crazy golf, tearoom, train ride and now indoor hard play centre) to encourage repeat visits. In 2005 a new indoor activity centre has been created and the Park began to open all year round.