Shackleton Experience is making Athy a tourist destination
At the Irish Building and Design Awards (IBDA) 2026 were Seamus Dooley, JSD Contracting; Aline Fitzgerald, Shackleton Experience; Marian Dempsey, Kildare County Council; Annette Keaveney, Kildare County Council, Annette Aspell, Director of Services, Kildare County Council, Pamela Pender, Kildare County Council, Mark Kennedy, K-Design Studio; Darragh Carey, Kildare County Council and Ciaran O’Brien, O’BFA
ATHY is receiving a big push for its tourism sector with the award-winning Shackleton Experience at the heart of its growing appeal.
Fresh from securing both the Leisure, Tourism and Hospitality Project of the Year and the Heritage, Conservation Project of the Year at the Irish Building and Design Awards (IBDA) 2026, the museum has been drawing increasing attention to Athy since its opening.
The awards celebrate outstanding achievements in architecture, engineering, construction and design.
The Shackleton Experience was recognised for carefully combining a process of best-practice building conservation, and detailed buildingâ¯restoration with contemporary flair design to a high standard.
Building on this momentum, the town recently welcomed leading tour operators from across Ireland for a specially Destination Familiarisation Trip, designed to show off Athy’s tourism offering, hospitality, and rich heritage.
Delivered through a strong collaboration between local partners, including Boats.ie, the Clanard Court Hotel, Burtown House, Kilkea Castle and Clancy’s Bar, the initiative highlighted the area’s fantastic blend of culture and history.
Guests were treated to an immersive itinerary that included a scenic barge cruise along Athy’s historic waterways, a guided exploration of the Shackleton Experience, and a range of premium hospitality offerings. These ranged from seasonal dining at Burtown House to a visit to Kilkea Castle, complete with activities at its expanded centre. The group also enjoyed a dining experience at the Clanard Court Hotel and a traditional music session in Clancy’s Bar.
Feedback from visiting operators was overwhelmingly positive, with many highlighting Athy as a “hidden gem” with strong potential for inclusion in future travel programmes. The town’s sense of community, warm welcome and high-quality visitor experiences were repeatedly cited as key strengths.
Central to this momentum is the continued success of the Shackleton Experience, which has been going from strength to strength since its opening.
The attraction features 11 immersive galleries that brings the story of polar explorer Ernest Shackleton to life through innovative exhibition design, including augmented reality elements that allow visitors to engage with the story at their own pace.
The development, supported by Kildare County Council and the Department of Rural and Community Development, has also played a key role in Athy’s wider regeneration, and has strengthened connections to nearby attractions such as Emily Square and the Barrow Blueway.
