by Alan Jacques
LOUGH Gur Heritage Centre was officially re-opened this week following a €500,000 revamp at the Neolithic tourist site.
Tourism Minister Paschal Donohoe was on hand to cut the ribbon at the heritage centre, which interprets the archaeology, history, folklore and environmental history through a modern framework of exhibits.
The Lough Gur Heritage Centre was originally opened by Shannon Heritage in 1981 and was managed as a tourism facility by the umbrella body for 30 years. In 2011, Lough Gur Development Co-operative Society Ltd, a non profit organisation comprised of local residents with the agreement of Limerick County Council, took over management of the Centre to improve and promote the area.
Speaking at the heritage centre’ official re-opening Minister Donohoe commented, “The plentiful supply of resources during Neolithic times made Lough Gur a very desirable place to live in over 6,000 years ago. We can clearly see today why people have travelled in great numbers over the last year in particular to see the wonderful area of Lough Gur.”
Minister Donohoe also stated that the planned restocking of the lake by IASC Lough Gur in 2015 would be a great addition to the services already on offer.
Work undertaken at the heritage centre included a complete overhaul of the building interior, the re-thatching of both roofs and the extensive redesign and creation of a new exhibition detailing 6,000 years of habitation at Lough Gur.
