83 Forest Sites Reopen After Storm Éowyn as Funding Flows

The Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD, has announced a €4 million funding package for 2025 to enhance and maintain Coillte-managed outdoor recreation sites across Ireland.

This includes a significant once-off allocation of €1.4 million to repair damage caused by Storm Éowyn earlier this year.

The funding forms part of the department’s strategic partnership with Coillte, which is delivering up to €15 million over five years to support the development and upkeep of forest trails and outdoor amenities. Minister Calleary said the investment is vital to maintaining Coillte’s extensive trail network and ensuring that millions of annual visitors can enjoy safe, high-quality facilities in the country’s forested areas.

“This year’s funding includes €2 million for the ongoing maintenance of over 160 recreational sites across the country and €600,000 for the development of new amenities,” the Minister said. “This partnership also supports Coillte’s engagement with local communities and recreation groups across Ireland.”

The investment will fund improvements in several counties, with examples including:

• Glentenassig, Kerry: Final phase of car park and entrance road improvements (€120,000)
• Courtown, Wexford: Repair and renewal of Spike Bridge (€35,000)
• Belleek, Mayo: Pond improvement works in Belleek Woods (€50,000)
• Ravensdale, Louth: Replacement of a footbridge (€70,000)
• Woodstock, Kilkenny: Access road repairs (€55,000)

Minister Calleary acknowledged the exceptional challenge posed by Storm Éowyn, which forced the closure of over 100 Coillte recreation sites nationwide. He said 83 of these have now reopened and the remainder are expected to be accessible again by the end of the year. The €1.4 million additional funding will support repair works at up to 200 storm-damaged sites.

Coillte CEO Imelda Hurley welcomed the announcement, noting that the funding comes at a crucial time.

“This investment will significantly enhance forest trails and outdoor recreation areas,” she said. “Following the devastation caused by Storm Éowyn, our teams have worked in extremely challenging conditions to restore public access. Thanks to this funding, we are now in a stronger position to recover fully and future-proof our forest amenities.”

She added that the department’s continued support would help Coillte attract more visitors while ensuring that rural communities benefit economically from growing interest in outdoor recreation.

The department also published the 2024 programme report, detailing outcomes from last year’s investment in Coillte infrastructure. Full details of the 169 sites scheduled for maintenance in 2025, along with the 17 new recreational projects, are now available online.

Today’s announcement contributes to the goals of Embracing Ireland’s Outdoors, the National Outdoor Recreation Strategy 2023–2027. The Department’s partnership with Coillte is governed by a Memorandum of Understanding that sets out €15 million in funding from 2022 to 2026. This builds on the previous agreement, which provided €11 million between 2017 and 2021.

Coillte currently manages 440,000 hectares of forest land and operates 260 recreational areas, twelve forest parks and six mountain bike centres across Ireland. It remains the country’s largest provider of outdoor recreation.