Shannon Development has announced plans to develop a major visitor attraction on lands beside Bunratty Castle and Folk Park in Co Clare.
The Castle and Folk Park are together one of the country's biggest tourist centres attracting around 400,000 visitors a year and generating income of €20m.
Shannon Development has access to a land bank of 120 acres beside the castle and is now seeking investors to enter into a management agreement with it to develop and operate a new tourist product.
The company says its own research has indicated that possible visitor attractions include a diaspora and genealogy centre, a themed family adventure park and other projects, which would outline as much as possible about Ireland's history and culture in one location.
The company has already lead a delegation to promote the idea in the US meeting members of the North American Advisory Council, which is a network of Irish people with family and business ties to the Shannon region, who will help to promote the new tourism attraction project and possibly find an interested investor.
The company will also be seeking investors from Ireland and across Europe for expressions of interest and ideas about how to develop the new tourist site.
