Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

That is important. A Carlow town forum group has been set up that works in conjunction with Carlow County Council. A subgroup has particularly focused on the castle and the tourism potential of it. Gerry, Bobby, Audrey and Carmel are part of that and are excellent. Members of these groups have been working for years to promote Carlow Castle because the bigger picture here is the tourism potential of it. It will be the hub and centre of a tourist attraction for Carlow. We are trying to make Carlow similar to the medieval mile in Kilkenny. That is what we have. Carlow has so many historical buildings and sites and we need Carlow Castle as a tourist attraction. We also need the funding that goes into that. We have a castle that can give so much to Carlow. It offers so much to people and tourists who visit it. I ask for a commitment from the Minister of State that the funding will be there to make Carlow Castle a tourist attraction, which will filter throughout Carlow town. Again, it is just one excellent tourist attraction we have.

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