A CO DERRY centre dedicated to the life and work of poet Seamus Heaney has made a £1 million loss since it opened in 2016.
The £4m HomePlace centre, which is owned and managed by Mid Ulster District Council, was opened in Heaney’s home village of Bellaghy in September 2016.
Details of the losses come as it emerged that a high-profile delegation, including Seamus Heaney’s son Christopher, are preparing to jet to the US in search of donations.
Figures provided by the council reveal it is in the red to the tune of more than £1m - with the district’s ratepayers picking up the tab.
Read More: New centre dedicated to life and work of Seamus Heaney opens in Bellaghy
In its first six months of operation, between September 30 2016 and April 1 2017, the centre racked up a loss of £393,662.
However, council officials say some of the costs suffered during those first six months are “non-recurring”.
Between April 1 2017 and March 31 last year more than £535,000 was lost as the centre struggled to balance the books.
Since April 1 last year and the middle of December the centre racked up more than £149,000 in loses.
More than 73,000 paying visitors have passed through the centre’s doors, including many from abroad, since it opened, while footfall is 120,000.
The south Derry area has become a magnet for Heaney fans since his death in 2013 and the Nobel Laureate is buried at St Mary’s graveyard on the outskirts of the village.
Read More: Prince Charles and Camilla tour Seamus Heaney centre
High-profile visitors to the centre include President Michael D Higgins and Prince Charles.
The council delegation is to travel to America tomorrow in a bid to network with potential doners.
Those taking part in in the trip include Seamus Heaney’s son Christopher, Sinn Féin chair Sean McPeake and DUP deputy chair Frances Burton.
Council chief executive Anthony Tohill and HomePlace manager Brian McCormick, will also make the trip.
The five-strong delegation will travel to Dallas where they will meet members of the Board of Directors of The Ireland Funds America and representatives of other organisations including Philanthropy, Inc, University of St Thomas, Baylor University, Northern Ireland Bureau, Dallas City Council and journalists.
The two councillors and Mr Tohill will return on Sunday while Mr Heaney and Mr McCormick will travel on to New York for another round of meetings over two days.
A public relations advisor is facilitating contacts and meetings in Dallas and New York.
A council spokeswoman last night said that HomePlace has generated revenue for area.
“While there is a net cost to the council, as there is with other council facilities, the development of HomePlace has a much broader impact and importance in both monetary and non-monetary terms,” she said.
“HomePlace is estimated to generate more than £800K in visitor spend and bed nights in the area per annum.”
She added that it has also created employment locally.
“The centre itself has created 20 jobs, with most of our staff coming from the immediate local area, and its wider positive economic impact has included the regeneration of the village of Bellaghy and surrounding district, increased visitors and visitor spend with local businesses, notably in the hospitality and tourism sector, and, through its retail outlet, it has provided an outlet for craft makers to showcase and sell their work,” she said.
The spokeswoman said that HomePlace “remains a key strand of the council’s investment in the development of literary tourism and an exemplar for success in rural tourism, helping to attract visitors beyond the boundaries of the traditional ‘City and Causeway’ offering.”
SDLP councillor Martin Kearney said the centre has given the area “a great boost”.
