40 volunteers to provide tour guide at €4m Round Tower heritage centre

By Maurice Garvey

TOURISTS to the new look Round Tower heritage centre in Clondalkin, will have the option of accessing tour guides in their native tongue, when the project is up and running in June.

It is just one of the new look features that has gone into the massive €4 million project, which will include visual and interactive displays, a café, 25-seat terraced dining area, gallery and craft shop.

Over 40 volunteer tour guides, spent 14 weeks learning skills and improving their knowledge of local history for the role.

Tours will be delivered in a range of languages including French, German, Spanish, Dutch, Italian and as Gaeilge.

The recent graduation ceremony at Áras Chrónáin, saw a big turnout from community groups, local representatives and members of South Dublin County Council.

“New politics in the Dáil is the old politics in Clondalkin when it comes to the Round Tower,” said Bernardine Nic Giolla Phádraig, a co-ordinator with the Clondalkin Round Tower Heritage Group.

“The Round Tower issue has always been above party politics.”

Ms Nic Giolla Phádraig praised the cross party support for the project, and said the heritage group developed a “very good relationship” with SDCC.

“We thanked them for the hard work, dedication and expertise which they have channeled into the project.”

The tour guide course was delivered by Róisín Burke of Abarta Heritage who was presented with a framed sepia photo of the Round Tower.

Each graduate received a certificate and a polo shirt with the logo of the volunteer group Clann Chrónáin.

The new look centre and restaurant Brú Chrónáin will be run by The Happy Pear owners Stephen and David Flynn.