Concerns over Dunree ‘theme park’ project

Fáilte Ireland has said it will work with locals over concerns about the plans for the tourist visitor centre at Dunree which is expected to open in April 2026.

The €12.5 million project, the biggest single investment by the State in a tourism facility in the county, is aimed at producing a visitor attraction that will explore the history of the site, its people and its ecology. It is the cornerstone of efforts by Fáilte Ireland and Donegal County Council to boost visitor numbers to Inishowen.

The plans include Ireland’s first-ever funicular cable railway. Fáilte Ireland expects the project to generate €19.5m in direct tourism expenditure in its first five years and support 550 jobs in the area. Twelve new jobs at the attraction will be created.

No decision has been made on the future of tenants on the site, including a cafe and the Artlink project, which has a gallery and office space at the fort.

The first of a series of public consultations on the project heard concerns about the project and its potential impact on locals who use it regularly.

Tony Grant from Buncrana told the consultation on Monday that while the investment in Dunree is welcome, he was concerned the project would turn Dunree “into a theme park where people come up for a joyride up the hill”.

He said he did not want to see a “white elephant installed in Dunree”.

“This unique property with its unique history and unique location deserves our full attention and best thinking to help it reach its full potential.”

Several people said an entrance fee would be opposed by locals who regularly use the fort for recreation such as walking, accessing the art gallery, swimming and water sports.

Local woman Mary Harrigan said “there are big concerns” about the project from up to 100 people who live locally or use Dunree regularly.

“This is something that we have 24-seven on our doorstep, 365 days - and then all of a sudden access will be restricted. If there is a fee levied there will be absolutely total objection - they will not buy into it. We have to be so careful about what is absolutely an outstanding natural beauty spot.

“The funicular railroad will be fantastic, and it will be a feature, but remember at the end of the day, it is the simplicity that is already there that is breathtaking.”

Joan Crawford of Fáilte Ireland said hearing the concerns of locals “is what public consultation is all about” and the consultation will continue “until we are assured that we have addressed all of the concerns that are in the community”.

The issues raised would “all be looked at,” she said.

“It's very important that we work with the community to come up with a solution for all of them. We are not even down to that stage yet in terms of how the site will work. We know from looking at Fort Dunree that there is a big community involvement there.”

John McCarter, chair of Fort Dunree Military Museum CLG, which manages the Donegal County Council-owned site, said it was “good to see the community engagement coming into play”.

The concerns of locals “have been known from the outset” and “are considerations that we have to find a way or a formula to make it work,” he said.

“I don’t know what the outcome will be, but inevitably there will be compromise. We do want to try to keep as many people onside and as pleased as we can that would get the use of the site.”

An artist’s impression of a funicular cable railway planned for Fort Dunree