Virtual tour of capital attractions
A virtual tour of leading Dublin attractions is expected to bring tens of thousands more real visitors to the capital.
Developers claim their new website and iPhone application will make it easier for tourists to find cultural landmarks in the city and even explore them before deciding to go.
Users can click on 16 sites in the Dublin Culture Trail – including the GPO, the Irish Museum of Modern Art and the James Joyce Centre – and take an introductory video tour inside.
The free service will carry practical information about the venue including location maps, upcoming events, special offers and photos.
The iPhone app also has built-in GPS technology which shows the user where they are on a map in relation to which attraction they want to visit.
Senator David Norris, launching the website, said it allows curators, educators and artists in the city’s museums and galleries to bring their collections to life for people in their homes or on the move.
“This is a new way of making their collections more accessible on a daily basis to the public both around the country and internationally,” he said.
Other featured venues include the National Museum of Ireland, Christ Church Cathedral, City Hall, the National Photographic Archive, Trinity College Dublin, the Irish Traditional Music Archive and the Hugh Lane gallery.
Grainne Millar, of the Temple Bar Cultural Trust, which helped develop the online guide with government funding, said it would help boost tourism in Dublin.
“We believe this and other similar innovations could grow audiences in participating venues by 20% in its first year alone,” she said.
The virtual trail was developed by software companies Software Design, Red Diamond Media and Davis Events, along with the Temple Bar Cultural Trust.
