Minister opens visitor centre showcasing Carrick-on-Suir's unique story
The Tides of Time Visitor Centre is located in the former St Nicholas’ Church of Ireland off Carrick-on-Suir’s Main Street
Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke officially opened Carrick-on-Suir’s Tides of Time visitor centre at the town’s restored St Nicholas Church of Ireland this morning.
The new visitor centre represents a significant addition to Tipperary's tourism offering, providing a new visitor attraction that strengthens the appeal of the region for both international and domestic visitors.
The project was awarded over €352,000 funding through Fáilte Ireland's Regenerative Tourism and Placemaking Scheme, which is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union under the EU Just Transition Fund.
Carrick-on-Suir Development Association invested a further €88,000 in the development bringing the total investment to over €440,000.
The Tides of Time centre is located in the former St. Nicholas’ Church of Ireland, located off Main Street, and was known as Carrick-on-Suir Heritage Centre before its revamp.
Its redevelopment was spearheaded by Carrick-on-Suir Development Association (COSDA) and Explore Carrick-on-Suir in partnership with Fáilte Ireland.
The revitalised visitor experience brings the story of Carrick-on-Suir to life, exploring the town's origins, its relationship with the River Suir and Three County Hinterlands, and the people, writers and artists who have shaped its identity across generations.
It combines the town's rich heritage with innovative interpretation, offering visitors a contemporary and immersive experience.
Highlights include audio visual experiences, interactive displays and touchscreen technology; an interactive talking portrait of nineteenth-century writer Dorothea Herbert, powered by AI and based on her own writings; a unique oral history archive featuring local voices; a reconstruction of the study of acclaimed local poet and author Michael Coady, newly designed exhibition and window graphics, and a series of engaging displays exploring the history and development of Carrick-on-Suir.
The centre also includes a café operated by local company, Three Bridges Coffee, alongside a book and gift shop that further enhances the visitor experience and supports the local economy.
Minister Burke told the official opening that the Tides of Time Visitor Centre is the perfect example of how investment through the EU Just Transition Fund is helping communities to unlock the tourism potential of their local heritage and create new opportunities for sustainable economic development.
“The redevelopment of this historic building has created a high-quality visitor experience that showcases the unique story of Carrick-on-Suir while supporting the local economy and strengthening the town's appeal as a tourism destination. I commend Carrick-on-Suir Development Association, Fáilte Ireland and all those involved in bringing this project to fruition."
Fáilte Ireland CEO Caroline Bocquel said the centre’s opening was another important milestone in the delivery of Fáilte Ireland's Regenerative Tourism and Placemaking Scheme and demonstrates the positive impact that investment through the EU Just Transition Fund is having in Tipperary and across the region.
“This project transforms an important heritage asset into a compelling visitor experience that will help attract more visitors to Carrick-on-Suir, encourage longer stays and deliver economic benefits for local businesses and the wider community.
“Located alongside attractions such as Ormond Castle and the Suir Blueway, Tides of Time strengthens the overall visitor offering in South Tipperary and provides a valuable addition to Ireland's Ancient East."
Bernie Roe, Assistant Director, Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly, said EMRA was pleased to see the official opening of Tides of Time and congratulated Carrick-on-Suir Development Association and Fáilte Ireland on bringing this project to life with the support of the EU Just Transition Fund Programme.
Niall Walsh, Chairperson of Carrick-on-Suir Development Association, said the Association was delighted that Minister Burke formally opened the state-of-the-art Tides of Time tourism interpretation at the visitor centre.
“With this great asset, we will grow our visitor numbers by orders of magnitude with consequent economic benefit to the town and its hinterland,” he said.