Gorey Visitor Centre closed its doors today?

By Dan Walsh in Gorey

After many threats to the security of its future Gorey Visitor Centre located in the historic Market House on Gorey’s Main Street closed its doors for the final time today (Sunday) “due to financial difficulties.”

It is a sad occasion for the North Wexford town and coastal tourism in the region, which, sadly like the whole tourism programme nationally is dependent on online promotion, which has its advantages, but tourism will decline without the “human touch and the character of the holiday and visitor experience to boost popularity and client satisfaction.”      

Voluntary Manager Cearúilín Ní Chonchubhair said; “In October, we thought we’d have to close, but we found ways to stay open as staff were still under contract, and we knew the centre’s value to the community and local artists. We asked artists for a €50 contribution to stay open until Christmas, and with generous support from the Gorey Community Development Group, committee members, and the North Wexford Historical Society, we can made it to Christmas week.

“If we had an affordable, centrally located space, we’d keep going into 2025 and continue providing much-needed tourist information. It’s sad to see it end,” added Cearúilín.

No doubt there will be calls upon Gorey Kilmuckridge Municipal District to establish a new tourist information facility in Gorey at a new location. Cllr Joe Sullivan told WexfordLocal.com that it is “very important that Gorey has a tourism information office, particularly in the height of the summer season, when large numbers of visitors are welcomed to enjoy what North Wexford has to offer.”

New Independent Cllr Nicky Boland said that “it is unthinkable that Gorey would be without a Visitor Centre going forward” and he paid tribute to the staff Gorey Community Development Group, local artists, community volunteers and staff to who kept the Visitor Centre running since the closure of the Market House for redevelopment last year.

Last year, saw its unexpected closure along with the risk of the community losing the Market House to developers, but there was a renewed hope when the community banded together and petitioned for the building to remain a community resource.

However, the successful THRIVE funding of €8.1 million for the designated heritage redevelopment of the Market House means it is closed to the public and creates necessity of a new premises and funding to revitalise Gorey Visitor Centre.