New Croagh Patrick Immersive Experience enables you to experience the summit

The Croagh Patrick Immersive Experience, a new visitor attraction that enables people of every age and ability to experience the summit of Croagh Patrick, will be officially opened today at the Croagh Patrick Visitor Centre in Murrisk, Co Mayo. It will be launched by the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD, this afternoon.

The project has been developed by Mayo North East LEADER Partnership through its social enterprise HeriTech Ventures CLG, in partnership with immersive technology specialists Sunovatech. It represents a significant six-figure investment in the refurbishment and opening of the Croagh Patrick Visitor Centre, the creation of the Immersive Experience, and the development of Ireland’s first all-season, all-weather, all-ability visitor attraction at the foot of Croagh Patrick. Award-winning writer, director and storyteller Seamus O’Rourke contributed to the creative interpretation and storytelling within the experience.

Croagh Patrick Immersive Experience

For the first time, people who can’t physically climb Croagh Patrick – because of age, disability, illness, limited mobility, fitness or weather – can still make the journey. A hyper-realistic virtual digital twin of the mountain lets them experience the emotional journey, summit and views over Clew Bay. The experience uses body tracking rather than handsets or gaming controllers, so a visitor’s own movement guides the story, making it intuitive for older visitors and those less familiar with technology.

At its centre is Saint Patrick, brought to life as host and companion, guiding visitors on the climb he made some 1,500 years ago, and connecting that ancient pilgrimage to the personal journey each visitor carries with them.

Rather than replacing the climb, the Immersive Experience complements it, creating a reason to visit Croagh Patrick in any weather and at any time of year, and encouraging visitors to spend more time in Murrisk, Westport and the wider Mayo region. It adds a new layer to Mayo’s tourism offer as promoted through Discover Ireland and the Wild Atlantic Way.

The building, owned by Mayo County Council, had been vacant for a number of years. Working with the Council, Mayo North East LEADER Partnership identified the opportunity to bring it back into productive use, creating the Croagh Patrick Visitor Centre as a new visitor attraction and social enterprise asset at the foot of one of Ireland’s most iconic mountains.

Croagh Patrick already attracts more than 150,000 visitors a year to its base. The Visitor Centre is projected to attract up to 50,000 visitors annually once established, including climbers, pilgrims, families, coach tours, schools, and domestic and international tourists. As a year-round, all-weather attraction, alongside its café, retail and visitor information offer, it is expected to increase visitor dwell time and spend across hospitality, accommodation, retail, transport and tourism services in the area.

The project has created nine full-time posts, with further indirect benefit for local suppliers, makers, contractors, tradespeople and tourism businesses in the area.

As a social enterprise, HeriTech Ventures reinvests surpluses from the attraction into community development and future heritage initiatives. Croagh Patrick is the first project in a wider programme HeriTech Ventures is developing to combine storytelling and emerging technology in support of rural heritage sites.

Speaking ahead of the official opening of the Visitor Centre, Dara Calleary TD, Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, said: “The view from the summit, taking in the archipelago of Clew Bay, Clare Island and the Mayo coastline, is unforgettable. This new experience gives people who may never be able to complete the physical climb an opportunity to share in that sense of wonder.

“It is also an excellent example of how social enterprise, innovation and collaboration can create employment, bring a rural building back into productive use and strengthen an already important destination.”

Orlagh Denneny, Senior Project Manager at Mayo North East LEADER, explained: “This started as a derelict building at the foot of Croagh Patrick. Now, people who never thought they’d get the chance, can experience the mountain in all its glory. Whether that’s someone who can’t manage the climb anymore, a child too young for it, or a visitor who arrives on a day the summit disappears into cloud, they can now stand on top of Croagh Patrick and understand why it’s mattered to people for 1,500 years. That’s what we set out to deliver, and it’s why HeriTech Ventures exists.”

Rishi Ahuja, founder and MD, Sunovatech, added: “Croagh Patrick has drawn people to it for more than 1,500 years. Our ambition was to let the technology disappear and the story lead, so that everyone, whatever their age or ability, can walk beside Saint Patrick and perhaps reflect on the mountains in their own lives. We are proud to partner with HeriTech Ventures in bringing this experience home to the community to which Croagh Patrick truly belongs.”

About Mayo North East LEADER Partnership

Mayo North East LEADER was established in June 2008 as an integrated LEADER Partnership company. It manages various programmes on behalf of several Government Departments and the EU for the collective benefit of the people and communities of North and East Mayo. Mayo North East is a company limited by guarantee, not having share capital, and with charitable status.

About HeriTech Ventures CLG

HeriTech Ventures CLG is a social enterprise established by Mayo North East LEADER Partnership Company to develop and operate immersive heritage tourism experiences which use digital storytelling and emerging technology to create sustainable jobs, regenerate rural places and reinvest surpluses into community and cultural projects.

About Sunovatech

Sunovatech is a creative technology company specialising in immersive experiences, including virtual reality, animation, digital twins and immersive environments. Founded in 2000, it operates from global studios in London, Dubai, Doha, New Delhi and Bangkok. The company has delivered more than 850 projects worldwide, among them the Croagh Patrick Experience. For more information, visit www.sunovatech.com.

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