Ongoing delays in selecting a suitable site for a Visitor Centre for Cashel were raised at the February meeting of Tipperary Cahir Cashel Municipal District. At the December meeting District Administrator Anselm McGowan had indicated that a decision would be made in 6 to 8 weeks. It is understood that 3 potential sites in the town are under active consideration with a decision expected very soon. The project is being led by a working party with members of the Office of Public Works, Department of Heritage, Fáilte Ireland and Tipperary County Council. Cllr Declan Burgess says the project is active since 2019 and hopes that it can progress to a site acquisition stage prior to the upcoming June local elections.
The interpretative centre or visitor centre is seeking a 2-acre site ideally in the town centre and is intended to assist the development of Cashel as a “Destination Town” for tourism purposes and to increase the economic benefit to the town due to the appeal of the Rock of Cashel.
In November 2022 Minister of State, Ossian Smyth, told the Dáil that the new facility would serve not just the needs of the Rock of Cashel visitor site but also the town of Cashel itself, acting as an engine for economic, tourism and cultural sector growth. The project may see a town centre location repurposed to serve as the Visitor centre as work continues to develop Cashel as a new destination town for tourists. The Rock of Cashel saw 357,273 visitors in 2023.
