A new visitor attraction designed to showcase the history and heritage of Carrick-on-Suir has officially opened following an investment of more than €440,000.

Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Minister Peter Burke officially opened the Tides of Time Visitor Centre on Thursday, describing it as an important investment that will help attract more visitors to the south-east while supporting local businesses.

Located in the restored St Nicholas’ Church in the heart of Carrick-on-Suir, the centre tells the story of the town through interactive exhibitions, audiovisual displays, local oral histories and an AI-powered talking portrait of nineteenth-century writer Dorothea Herbert.

The project received more than €352,000 through Fáilte Ireland’s Regenerative Tourism and Placemaking Scheme, funded under the EU Just Transition Fund, with Carrick-on-Suir Development Association contributing a further €88,000.

When questioned by reporters at the event today about underinvestment in the South-East, Minister Burke reiterated the government’s committment to the region, including Waterford:

The visitor centre sits alongside attractions including Ormond Castle and the Suir Blueway, with organisers hoping it will encourage visitors to spend longer exploring Carrick-on-Suir and the wider region, including neighbouring County Waterford.

The development also includes a café operated by Three Bridges Coffee and a gift shop, adding further amenities for visitors.

Chairperson of Carrick-on-Suir Development Association, Niall Walsh, said the centre has the potential to significantly increase visitor numbers and provide a boost to the local economy.

The project forms part of Fáilte Ireland’s Regenerative Tourism and Placemaking Scheme, which supports sustainable tourism projects across Ireland’s Ancient East and the Midlands through the EU Just Transition Fund.