Doneraile bids for tourism major league

Plans to develop a stately home and 400-acre park into one of the country’s top tourist attractions have already received a major boost.

Visitor numbers to Doneraile Park near Mallow are currently almost on a par, annually, with some other world-renowned attractions in the south of Ireland.

However, admission to Doneraile is free, at present. It is expected to attract 360,000 visitors this year, just a few thousand short of visitor numbers to paid-attractions such as Blarney Castle and Fota Wildlife Park.