40 tour guides complete their training for Clondalkin Round Tower centre
By Maurice Garvey
A LOT of planning has gone into the new look Round Tower heritage centre in Clondalkin, which is set to open to the public in June.
The project cost approximately €4 million and no detail has been spared for the eagerly anticipated centre, which will include visual and interactive displays, a monastic garden, a café, a 25-seat terraced dining area, a gallery and craft shop.
Last week, over 40 volunteers completed their training as tour guides for the centre.
Meanwhile at Round Towers GAA Club, up to one hundred people applied for jobs as chefs and café assistants in the Round Tower restaurant Brú Chrónáin.
The new look centre will be run by The Happy Pear restaurant owners Stephen and David Flynn, who hope to offer a full breakfast, lunch and dinner menu with seating for around 60 customers.
Bernardine Nic Giolla Phadraig, Co-ordinator Clondalkin Round Tower Heritage Group, said 43 volunteer tour guides completed extensive training in a 14-week course delivered by Róisín Burke of Abarta Heritage.
“Dave and Steve Flynn are looking forward to a tour of the village with the volunteers in the near future and hope to bring some of their Greystones staff over for the event to familiarise themselves with the heritage of Clondalkin,” said Bernardine.
“We look forward to a great evening soon and a chance for the restaurant venture and the community volunteers to get to know one another on a village stroll.”
Volunteer Tour Guides will operate from the centre to provide guided walks of Clondalkin’s historical heritage area.
They will special-ise in delivering appropriate tours to schools, members of the public and seasoned heritage buffs.
The visitor centre itself will be a self-guided visit and operate on a one loop system.
GEM Construction Ltd secured the contract from the South Dublin County Council for the project.
The design of the interior was carried out by Tandem Design, who created the interactive visitor experiences in King John’s Castle, Limerick and the Titanic Belfast.
