Press release

OPW announces the opening of temporary catering facilities at Clonmacnoise, Co. Offaly

From: Office of Public Works
Published on: 11 July 2025
Last updated on: 11 July 2025

The Office of Public Works is delighted to announce the opening of a temporary café service at Clonmacnoise heritage site, Co. Offaly. The café will provide tea/ coffee and snacks to the public and includes picnic tables with parasols for the public to relax and soak up their surroundings and enhance the visitor experience while redevelopment works are ongoing.

Clonmacnoise

Clonmacnoise Visitor Centre is one of the top tourist attractions in the Midlands. The visitor centre is currently undergoing a significant redevelopment. The exciting redevelopment project, which is funded through the EU Just Transition Fund, will include converting the Visitor Centre into a modern, sustainable and fully accessible facility.

Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW, Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran stated, “I am delighted to be here today to see the opening of the much anticipated café service to the visitors at Clonmacnoise. The provision of catering services at the site will enhance the overall visitor experience where visitors can enjoy the beautiful historic and picturesque landscape whilst enjoying a coffee and a snack.

The OPW is delighted that Clonmacnoise has been selected for redevelopment under the Just Transition Fund and is fully committed to transforming the Clonmacnoise Visitor Centre into a modern and fully accessible centre that caters for all needs and enhancing visitor engagement”.

Works to the Visitor Centre are due to commence in late 2025, the redevelopment will provide a permanently adapted visitor centre that includes a dedicated education space, a changing places facility and new interpretive displays.

For more information about Clonmacnoise Monastic Site please go to – heritageireland.ie

For more information please contact the OPW Press Office at pressoffice@opw.ie

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