TUS Limerick School of Art and Design conference told community has key role to play in sustainable tourism

At the “Renew Bunratty” Conference organised by TUS Limerick School of Art and Design (LSAD) and Bunratty Local Development Association (BLDA) in Bunratty Folk Park (l to r) President of TUS Professor Vincent Cunnane, Chief Executive of Clare County Council Pat Dowling, Virgina Teehan The Heritage Council and Mike Fitzpatrick Dean Limerick School of Art and Design and Director of Cultural Engagement, TUS. Pic by Brian Arthur

TUS LSAD ‘Renew Bunratty’ conference told community has key role to play in sustainable tourism

The key role of community in sustainable tourism, and in particular the role of “Renew Bunratty” in the future development of the county Clare village and its tourism amenities, was central to the sustainable tourism conference organised by TUS Limerick School of Art and Design (LSAD) and Bunratty Local Development Association (BLDA) this Tuesday (February 6, 2024).

The world-renowned art and design school has partnered with the community response group to create “Renew Bunratty”, a project that has received €50,000 from Creative Ireland’s Creative Climate Action Fund II.

This project is a community-led, hands-on collaboration between the university and Bunratty in a process that has been designed to nurture a sense of caring for the environment in and around Bunratty Castle, one of the biggest tourist attractions in Ireland.

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On Tuesday, leaders in tourism and local government attended a daylong conference organised by LSAD and BLDA that discussed the important insight communities can bring to the redevelopment of their villages and the associated tourism offering.

President of TUS Professor Vincent Cunnane assured delegates of the Technological University of the Shannon’s (TUS) support for the project though the work of the staff and students at LSAD and the ability of the university to reach out to regions across Europe facing similar tourism challenges through RUN-EU – the European university alliance which is currently led by TUS.

“TUS plays a pivotal role in supporting and developing the region’s economy. This conference allows us to bring together some of the leading experts in the area of tourism and sustainability, including our own researchers and lecturers to share their experience and ideas.  Through LSAD we are also proud to work with BLDA and the local community to develop a sustainable approach to tourism and local development, something which deepens our established role as a major provider of education in business, hospitality and tourism.”

Addressing the conference also, Chief Executive of Clare County Council Pat Dowling told delegates, “Bunratty is an iconic, internationally renowned brand that could benefit from a new lease of life” adding that the local authority was committed to developing the local tourism attractions and is currently in discussions with tourism bodies about the recreation and reinvigoration of Bunratty.

Highlighting some of the tourism projects the council is currently supporting he pointed to the importance of the conservation of Bunratty Castle.

“We have a duty of care to protect the castle, and don’t be surprised if you see work beginning on that in the future,” he said.

Mike Fitzpatrick Dean Limerick School of Art and Design and Director of Cultural Engagement, TUS said that “through a series of projects, LSAD with BLDA and the local community will develop a sustainable approach to tourism and local development through intergenerational collaboration and skills exchange, repurposing materials and exploring ways of subtly shifting behaviours to enrich rather the local ecosystems that first made Bunratty attractive. This project also aims to investigate how a fairer and more sustainable model of tourism might be achieved, benefiting the economy and livelihoods of those who depend on tourism for their income.”

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