Doneraile Park visitor numbers topped the half-a-million mark last year  

VISITOR numbers to Cork heritage sites increased last year, according to new figures from the Office of Public Works (OPW).

The number of visitors across all its Irish sites exceeded 15.3m, up from 15m in 2022, the OPW announced.

Ireland’s major parks, such as the Phoenix Park, St Stephen’s Green, and parklands around Cork’s Doneraile Court, have remained top of the list, continuing the trend of visitors utilising these recreational spaces, with Doneraile Park visitors increasing from 485,000 in 2022 to 523,800 in 2023.

Charles Fort, in Kinsale, reported an increase from 86,704 to 96,253 visitors year-on-year, Fota Arboretum & Gardens from 135,775 to 142,872, Garnish Island from 63,027 to 67,630, and Desmond Castle from 25,928 to 26,131.

Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW, Patrick O’Donovan, said: “The 2023 visitor data clearly indicates that there is a strong interest in heritage tourism and that an increasing number of visitors regard Ireland’s heritage sites as great places to visit.”