Tower closure hits mid-west tourism figures

VISITOR numbers to tourist attractions in the mid-west took a substantial hit last year, mainly due to the temporary closure of a historic stone tower.

Shannon Development, responsible for tourism in the mid-west, disclosed in its annual report yesterday that visitor numbers to day attractions fell to 562,000 from 620,000 in 2005.

Company spokesman Frank Larkin said the drop resulted from the closure of O’Brien’s Tower at the Cliffs of Moher during the construction of the new €31.5 million visitor centre, due to open on February 2.