“A gateway vision for the Dingle Peninsula”
Rich with living Gaeltacht traditions, the Dingle Peninsula has a worldwide reputation for its engrained, uniquely-Irish spirit.
Údarás na Gaeltachta – the state agency responsible for the economic, social and cultural development of the Irish-speaking regions of Ireland – had identified an opportunity to develop a new Dingle Peninsula Discovery Gateway; where visitors can gain insights into the region’s rich, multifaceted culture and heritage before setting out to explore.
Tandem was commissioned to develop an Interpretation Plan for funding through Fáilte Ireland’s Platforms for Growth funding application, as part of a wider Feasibility Masterplan.
Tandem proposed that the ‘Discovery Gateway’ was housed within a surviving workhouse building, at the edge of Dingle town; itself a clue to one of the region’s most important stories.
Through analysis of target markets, the building’s interior spaces and the region’s culture and heritage we determined that two discrete interpretive gallery experiences, bound together under one roof, would be appropriate: one dedicated to Dingle’s dramatic and emotionally fraught Famine story and one revealing the dynamic, colourful and energetic pulse of the Peninsula.
Integral to both experiences would be engagement with the Irish language, as much a part of the ‘Dingle Experience' as the breathtaking sea- and landscapes. Our Interpretation Strategy put the Irish language front and centre, and recommended techniques that ‘bridge the language gap’.
Our plan for the Discovery Gateway is to create an experience that would inspire and motivate visitors, encouraging them to make the most of their time in the region; and to leave thoroughly energised.