Tourism Industry In Wicklow Dealt A Blow As Celtic Routes Project To End

Wicklow tourism and hospitality interests are set to lose out as the unique Ireland-Wales Celtic Routes project is in danger of collapsing because of Brexit.

Celtic Routies was launched in 2019 and has seen a range of successful tourism initiatives between Wicklow, Wexford and Waterford and Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire and Ceredigon in Wales.

The project was designed to foster links between the three South East counties and their Welsh colleagues with the objective of increasing visitor travel between them and other links.

An indication of how successful Celtic Routes has been is a recent report which showed that from its inception in 2019 to the end of March 2023 almost 300 million people around the world through different formats have checked out information on Celtic Routes.

Initial funding of €2 million was provided under the European Territorial Co-operation Programme and then in 2020, the Welsh Government announced new funding arrangements to replace those previously administered by the EU.  In all close to €4m has been invested in the project.

But now after four successful years the entire project’s future is threatened because of Brexit and the UK leaving the European Union with the Project Officer warning that Celtic Route will close at the end of August unless new funds are found.