Tourism and Heritage Masterplan for St. Mullins, Co. Carlow
Client: Carlow County Council
Introduction/Overview Section:
St. Mullins is a scenic riverside village on the River Barrow, notable for its ecclesiastical history and significant archaeological sites comparable to Glendalough and Clonmacnoise.
Funded by the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, Exodea Europe Consulting was commissioned by Carlow County Council Local Enterprise Office to provide a Tourism and Heritage Masterplan for the area.
Project Details Section:
Scope of Assignment
The scope of the assignment included:
Facilitating the community and agencies to create a ten-year Masterplan (2022-2032) for St. Mullins.
Conducting a costed options appraisal for future development, including Carlow County Council lands.
Setting short, medium, and long-term implementation objectives for funding opportunities.
Providing a practical and sustainable vision considering environmental, economic, heritage, and social impacts.
Reviewing tourism potential and offering development recommendations.
Consulting with stakeholders, including the local community, OPW, Carlow County Council, and Fáilte Ireland.
Recommending models and best practices for ongoing management involving community and private sector roles.
Suggesting infrastructural improvements such as toilets, picnic facilities, and walking/cycling paths, with detailed costings.
Conducting a signage audit and creating a signage plan.
Identifying market opportunities, core target segments, potential appeal, projected visitor numbers, and economic impact.
Process/Approach Section:
Community and Agency Consultation
Following extensive community and agency consultation, the St. Mullins Masterplan 2022-2032 provides a pathway for the sensitive development of the historic village and its environs.
Particular attention was paid to improving pedestrian and cycling permeability within and between the ecclesiastical and historical features whilst managing vehicular access and preventing further environmental degradation.
Outcomes/Results Section:
Key Elements of the Masterplan
The Masterplan provided for four key elements:
1. Resourcing of a Community Development Structure to oversee the implementation of the Masterplan.
2. Creation of a Heritage Centre Gateway Point to control the number of visitors within the village.
3. The implementation of a Public Realm and Wayfinding Infrastructure to guide visitors around the village.
4. Developing a marketing and promotion plan will help increase the number of visitors across the season.
In addition to the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, several funding streams were identified to support aspects of the Masterplan.
These streams included the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, Fáilte Ireland’s Platforms for Growth: A Programme for Tourism Investment 2019-2022 capital investment Programme, and the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme.”