WHAT THE PROJECT INVOLVES

The Tides of Time project at Carrick-on-Suir Heritage Centre is a major new interpretive initiative made possible through EU Just Transition funding and Fáilte Ireland’s Regenerative Tourism and Placemaking Scheme. The project involves transforming the Heritage Centre into a dynamic cultural and visitor hub that reflects the town’s rich history, creativity, and community spirit.

Key elements of the project include:

• Developing a new immersive interpretive experience that blends storytelling, local narratives, history, and interactive technology.
• Designing a suite of engaging features such as audio-visual installations, oral history recordings, and flexible exhibition spaces.
• Creating a redesigned book and gift retail offering to help sustain the Centre’s future operations.
• Establishing a multi-use literary and community space to host cultural events, performances, and artist-led programming.
• Embedding sustainability and biodiversity principles throughout the design.

This work positions the Heritage Centre at the heart of Carrick-on-Suir’s regeneration strategy and strengthens the town’s role as a key gateway to the Three Counties region.

OUTPUTS / FINISHED PROJECT

Upon completion in May 2026, the project will deliver:

• A fully reimagined Heritage Centre serving as the town’s primary cultural and visitor hub.
• Immersive interpretive installations, including interactive displays, historical storytelling features, and community-sourced oral histories.
• Dynamic exhibition spaces capable of hosting rotating content and future programming.
• A newly designed retail area featuring books and locally inspired gifts to enhance visitor experience and Centre sustainability.
• A flexible cultural space for events, performances, workshops, and community gatherings.
• High-quality marketing and events strategy to amplify the Centre’s reach regionally and nationally.

These outputs ensure that the Heritage Centre becomes a living, evolving destination shaped by local voices and creative input.

IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY AND HINTERLANDS (EU Just Transition Territory)

The project is expected to deliver significant social, cultural, and economic impact:

Community Impact

• Deepens local pride and identity by celebrating Carrick-on-Suir’s stories, heritage, and people.
• Provides new cultural and educational spaces for schools, community groups, and artists.
• Supports community cohesion by creating a shared place for events, performances, and intergenerational storytelling.
• Captures and preserves local memory through oral histories and community-led interpretation.

Economic and Tourism Impact

• Strengthens Carrick-on-Suir as a strategic gateway town at the meeting point of Tipperary, Waterford, and Kilkenny.
• Boosts tourism footfall and dwell time, contributing to local business activity and job creation.
• Supports sustainable economic regeneration aligned with EU Just Transition goals.
• Positions the town on the Ireland’s Ancient East visitor trail as a distinctive, high-quality heritage stop.
• Long-Term Impact for the Midlands Just Transition Region
• Demonstrates how regenerative tourism can revitalise smaller towns through heritage-led innovation.
• Creates a model for community-driven placemaking that can be replicated elsewhere in the Just Transition territory.
• Ensures that the benefits of the investment endure through enhanced visitor experiences, strengthened community infrastructure, and sustainable economic activity.

Please see eufunds.ie and emra.ie/eu-jtf for further information.