Four schemes across Ireland are to net a share of investment worth nearly EUR6m (£5.2m) as part of a government initiative to "stimulate" the country's tourism sector.

The largest share of the funding (EUR2.7m (£2.4m)) has been awarded to plans for the creation of a new setting for the Book of Kells at Trinity College, Dublin.

Meanwhile, EUR2.4m (£2.1m) of funding will go towards a project to build an interpretative centre for the gardens of Garnish Island near Glengarriff, County Cork.

The other projects to benefit are a new international-standard mountain bike trail in Killarney, Kerry, and enhanced camping and activity facilities for Lough Rynn, Leitrim.

Leo Varadkar, minister for transport, tourism and sport, said: "These investments will help Ireland to continue competing with other holiday destinations around the world, by providing high-quality tourist attractions.

"We aim to protect those jobs and stimulate new ones by investing in tourism projects like these, in tandem with the tourism measures contained in the Jobs Initiative."

Image: Dublin's Trinity College Library houses the Book of Kells - Patrick Theiner