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OVER 4.5 MILLION people visited heritage sites in Ireland last year, with the number increasing from 2014.
The Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Simon Harris said that while the figures for 2015 are still in the process of being compiled, provisional estimates indicate an increase on the year previous.
Figures for 2014 show that 4.5 million people visited the 69 OPW heritage sites which are guided – with the National Botanic Gardens coming out on top with 541,946 visits.
Farmleigh Estate was next in line with 402, 773 visits and the Dublin theme kept on going with Kilmainham Gaol being the third most popular site with 328,886 visitors.
St. Mary’s Church in Gowran, Kilkenny recorded the lowest numbers of site visits at just 2,002, closely followed by Ballyhack Castle in Wexford (2,471) and Scattery Island off the coast of Kilrush in Clare (2,491).
Click here for a larger image of the above table.
Minister Harris said that these figures relate to sites where the OPW Heritage Services provide guide facilities and where visitor numbers are fully recorded.
He added that there are significantly more visitors to heritage sites in OPW care which are not attended by staff and where there is no facility to record footfall.
“It is clear that there are many more people attending at heritage sites throughout the country than the formally recorded figures would indicate.”
They have way too much time on their hands..
Talk about “on the clock” no way of going home early from this job!
I almost had a heart attack walking up the winding staircase in St.Pauls…you could not pay me enough to do this! Fair play
Watch out for the mouse at one o clock!
Well Paul they are known as R.A.T.s (rope access technicians) so it’s the mouse that should watch out (sorry about the pun).
An exciting day at the office.
Beats abseiling down a rock face, paid and on the news.
The day would drag by though…clock watching like that.
Big Ben I’d the bell, not the clock face. Just saying…
About time it was cleaned.
…They should be at least on time and a half for over time.
Four tics…
Harold Lloyd springs to mind !!!!
Using harnesses…amateurs. Harold Lloyd did that without safety equipment all the way back in 1923 on a film called Safety last.
In all seriousness, I would need adult diapers in order to do that job. :o
Wow! It is a big clock….
Imagine a crowd of Guys discussing their jobs in the pub. “Well I’m in financial services myself what do you do”. “Im an accountant!. And you Tim what do you do? ” oh I wash Big Bens face”
They missed a bit there. Start again fellas
I would actually pay to be able to do this. I know its not everybodys idea of fun but I would love the chance.
This is news! They’re doing their job FFS!
Did you know Big Ben’s knob can be seen from outer space
Got dizzy watching them today.
Wtf….they risk their lives to wash/clean/dry the world’s most famous clock!
Relax. They’re wearing helmets.
They have harnesses. Check the ropes on the photos.
Great Story, some more high rise cleaners here for all you non-acrophibics
http://www.master-cleaners.co.uk/blog/fearless-cleaners/
This is my trade & i love it, you can see for miles & the views are amazing>
A very safe trade to be in.
Amazing engineering & time setting https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qEPDXDVxvw
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