Funding to Grow Midlands Outdoor Trails

Minister Dara Calleary has announced €350,000 in funding to maintain the Midlands Trail Network and Lough Boora trails over the next five years.

The strategic partnership with BnM (formerly Bord na Móna) aims to boost tourism and improve amenities across Longford, Offaly, Roscommon, Tipperary, and Westmeath.

The investment supports the extensive trail development funded by the EU Just Transition Fund, which repurposes former peat extraction lands into accessible walking and cycling routes.

Minister Calleary highlighted the importance of preserving these new outdoor spaces created through BnM’s network of railways, bridges, bog roads, and waterways, opening up previously inaccessible landscapes for walkers and cyclists. He emphasized the need to maintain the trails to protect significant EU and national investments.

BnM CEO Tom Donnellan welcomed the partnership, noting the company’s commitment to developing renewable energy infrastructure while creating social and environmental value for Midlands communities. He said the new trails would complement BnM’s ongoing efforts in renewable energy and regional revitalization.

This initiative forms a key part of the National Outdoor Recreation Strategy 2023-2027, supporting sustainable tourism and community development in the Midlands region.