Seven Leitrim projects received funding to upgrade forest parks, walking trails and outdoor amenities

Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, has today, 30 June 2023, announced funding of €3 million to develop and upgrade over 300 forest parks, walking trails and outdoor amenities across the country. 

Some €2 million will be invested in improving and maintaining 280 recreational facilities on Coillte-owned lands across the country.

Frank Feighan TD has welcomed funding on this measure for local counties, including Leitrim, Sligo and North Roscommon. 

Announcing the funding, Minister Humphreys explained that Ireland’s outdoors, including forest parks, walking and cycling trails, uplands and blueways, are among the best in the world. “The benefits they provide regarding our physical and mental wellbeing are huge. They are also important assets in attracting tourists to Rural Ireland and supporting our local economies”, he added. 

The funding is part of a five-year strategic partnership between the Department of Rural and Community Development and Coillte which will see a €15m investment over five years, from 2022 to 2026. 

Under the ‘Our Rural Future’ initiative, seven projects are being supported in Leitrim, totalling €22,464 investment. The projects and their respective fundings are: 

• Derrynahimmirk / Fowleys Falls: Strimming of paths; general maintenance; funded approved €2,304; 
• Glencar Waterfall: Windblown trees; funded approved €5,760;
• Milltown/Ballyglass: Strimming, path repairs; funded approved €1,152;
• Derrycarne: Ongoing maintenance required here, grass cutting, road cleaning and complete remainder of internal walking trail; funded approved €1,728; 
• Glenfarne: General Amenity Maintenance; funded approved €2,304;
• Leitrim Way: Repair remaining sections of trail after adjacent areas are clear felled and drainage improvements; funded approved €3,456; and 
• Scardan waterfall General Maintenance, grass cutting and necessary repairs to the viewing platform; funded approved €5,760.

And a further €1 million will be used to deliver 25 new outdoor projects such as walking trails, loops, boardwalks, ecotrails and car park facilities.

The investment is part of a Strategic Partnership between the Department of Rural and Community Development and Coillte to boost rural tourism and local economies. 

Coillte’s Head of Recreation, Daithi de Forge, says they are delighted to continue its partnership with the Department of Rural and Community Development. “We will continue to deliver the highest quality outdoor forest recreation experiences for our communities nationwide. We have an open forest policy, and we’re proud to support local businesses and many others who partner with us and add the services that make a trip to Coillte’s forests so enjoyable for our visitors”, he said.

The 20 most popular Coillte were also revealed today, with Rossmore Forest Park in County Monaghan ranked number one, followed by Ticknock in County Dublin and Donadea Forest Park in County Kildare.

Minister Humphreys announced the €3 million investment during a visit to Killykeen Forest Park in County Cavan, which recorded the seventh most visitors in 2022.

Coillte recorded a significant increase in visitor numbers to its Forest Parks and recreation sites over the past number of years, with a doubling of visitor numbers at some of its most popular sites, e.g. Rossmore, Co. Monaghan had visitor numbers increased from just over 80,000 in 2019 to almost 350,000 in 2022.