Donegal to Wicklow: outdoor amenities get €8.7m upgrade

Walking trails in Donegal and Kerry, an accessible swimming facility in Wicklow Harbour and a sensory recreation space at Lough Muckno in Monaghan are among more than 200 projects to benefit from €8.7 million in funding announced by Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht Dara Calleary.

The funding, provided under the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS), will support 221 small-scale recreational projects across every county. These include improvements to signage, parking facilities, trail furniture, and the marketing and promotion of outdoor amenities.

Among the allocations are €40,000 to enhance the Dungloe River and Cope Mountain Looped Walk in Co Donegal, €39,870 for works on the Caher Mountain trail in the Mcgillycuddy’s Reeks in Co Kerry, and €40,000 for a Sea-Trac system in Wicklow Harbour to provide independent swimming access for people with physical disabilities. Lahardane in Co Mayo will receive €40,000 for a trail linking the Titanic Park to the Nephin car park, while the Warren Way in Co Sligo will benefit from €40,000 for surfacing and resurfacing works.

Other projects include €50,000 for consultations on an off-road link between Griston Bog and Ballylanders in Co Limerick, and detailed design work for a canoe trail, slalom course and whitewater rafting centre on the Scariff River in Co Clare.

Announcing the funding, Mr Calleary said the investment would have “a wide range of capital projects developed and delivered all across the country, adding to our already impressive outdoor recreation offering”. He said the scheme delivered on commitments in the Government’s rural development policy Our Rural Future and the National Outdoor Recreation Strategy Embracing Ireland’s Outdoors.

Minister of State for Community Development and Charities Jerry Buttimer said the funding would act as a catalyst for tourism in rural areas and praised community groups for their role in developing local amenities.

Mr Calleary said larger scale projects funded under measures two and three of the 2024/25 scheme will be announced in the coming months.

Full list of projects.