PLANS to redevelop Elizabeth Fort as a tourist attraction have stalled and are likely to be shelved in the short term in favour of developing Shandon, a City Councillor has warned.
The Council has major plans, that could cost up to €4million, to redevelop the historic fort and courtyard into a top-class tourist location with a full museum detailing the history of the fort and the city of Cork, including a replica Cork street from the 1600s along with a shop and a cafe.
![Elizabeth Fort]()
Elizabeth Fort
Once complete Elizabeth Fort will form a vital cog in the city’s tourism trail.
However, Independent City Councillor Mick Finn said that a recent meeting with officials they were told the Shandon area of the city was being prioritised with Elizabeth fort being bumped down the order of priorities.
“It could now stall just as it was beginning to gain a foothold,” he said.
“My understanding is that the Shandon area is now being prioritised for funding applications and this has bumped Elizabeth Fort down the order of priorities.”
“This is very disappointing considering the work that has gone into the Fort to date and the fact that the present tourism offering is attracting so many people every week of the year.
Cllr Finn said the Shandon Street area, and of course the Butter Exchange, are also hugely important tourism assets for Cork and must be pursued with vigour also but not at the expense of a project that has already been trumpeted as a game-changer for the city.
“News of this change of priority came as something of a shock to councillors at a recent meeting but we are hopeful that it can be kept on the agenda.”
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