Two historic town projects in County Clare have been allocated combined funding of almost €140,000.

The Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism announced that the Ennis Historic Town Trail and the Kilrush Historic Town Trail projects will receive grants totalling €112,760 and €27,080 respectively, under Fáilte Ireland's Historic Towns Initiative.

The funding announcement was made by Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Martin Cullen, on an official visit to the National Museum of Ireland - Museum of Country Life in Turlough Park in Castlebar.

Welcoming the allocation of two grants to County Clare, local TD Tony Killeen said: "The Historic Towns Initiative introduced by Fáilte Ireland is aimed at the development of a series of historic walking trails in up to 100 towns around the country.

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"The funding announced by Minister Cullen for Kilrush and Ennis is being made available to assist Clare Local Authorities to provide a range of tourist signage, including orientation, interpretive and information boards, along the designated historic trails, which guides the visitor around the town."

Mr Killeen said the funding would assist in maximising the tourism potential of Kilrush and Ennis.

"I hope that funding will enhance the overall experience of those who visit Kilrush and Ennis. County Clare is fortunate to possess so many important heritage sites.

"Therefore, we must do everything possible to make them more accessible to members of the local community and visitors to the respective towns."

The Historic Towns Initiative forms part of the Tourism Product Development and Infrastructure sub-programme of the National Development Plan 2007-13.

The initiative is also part of the Tourism Infrastructure Fund, which supports local authorities and other infrastructure providers to develop facilities for tourists, such as walking and cycling routes, jetties and moorings, angling stands, and access paths to areas of environmental and scenic interest.

(PR/JM)