Liberator’s home to get €1.2m tourist makeover

THE ancestral Kerry home of Daniel O’Connell is to receive a €1.2 million upgrade which, it is hoped, will turn it into a “must do” tourist attraction.

Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht Minister Jimmy Deenihan said the grant will transform the Derrynane House in Caherdaniel, giving visitors home and abroad a “real and vibrant sense of Derrynane as the historic home of one of the most important figures in Irish history”.

He said the money will greatly improve presentation of the house and its historic contents, as well as giving better access.

“It will give a unique insight into this fascinating man, his many campaigns on behalf of ordinary people, and bring to life his era for current and future generations,” Mr Deenihan said.

Daniel O’Connell, known as the Liberator, is credited with being responsible for the achievement of Catholic emancipation and led the first popular people’s movement in modern times.

According to the minister, he mobilised millions of people and was an inspirational figure across the world.

Derrynane House was largely built to O’Connell’s design in the 1820s. The house was presented to the people of Ireland by the descendants of O’Connell in 1964. It has a collection of furniture, paintings, books and memorabilia associated with O’Connell and his family.

Mr Deenihan said the Tourism Capital Investment Grant of up to €1,220,891, under the National Development Plan, would be announced by his colleague Tourism Minister Leo Varadkar in the coming days. He said some of the work will be carried out in 2011 with the rest in 2012.