Two Boyle projects have been awarded grant aid of €60,000.
€30,000 will be provided to Roscommon Co Co to refurbish the toilet block/changing facility at Doon Shore, outside Boyle, while a further €30,000 will be provided to maintain and upgrade an area on the Lough Key to Boyle Cycle Way.
The Boyle projects are part of a number of outdoor adventure projects right across Ireland that will receive funding of almost €6 million encouraging the community in Leitrim and North Roscommon to enjoy the hidden gems on our doorsteps this summer, according to Minister of State and local TD Frank Feighan.
Minister Feighan has welcomed the news from Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys. The funding falls under the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS), will be key to enhancing our outdoor amenities such as our walkways, cycleways, rivers, lakes, and beaches.
Minister Feighan said: “This funding will develop 200 outdoor adventure projects across rural Ireland will attract visitors to mountain trails, forest walks, rivers, lakes and beaches. €164,348 has been allocated to Co Leitrim under this round of funding.
Several projects in the North Roscommon area has received funding of over €90,000
“It will also provide a major boost to local economies by attracting visitors and furthering our reputation in Leitrim and North Roscommon as a destination for adventure tourism. Almost €4.3 million will be used to improve some 163 outdoor amenities across the country. Each project will receive up to €30,000 to support their enhancement.
“Outdoor activities in this local region play a key role in communities and we have seen this throughout the recent pandemic. Recreation tourism is growing internationally and has the potential to have major economic spin-off benefits for our rural towns and villages.
The successful projects in Leitrim include,
Drumshanbo Narrow Gauge Walking Trail (PDM, Drumshanbo – Develop a trail along the route of the narrow/gauge railway Leitrim County Council €43,200
Glencar Amenity (PDM), Dartry Mountains – develop additional walking routes/ extend the existing carpark Leitrim County Council €43,200
Leitrim Way, Repairs to Stoney River Bridge and installation of footfall monitor, Leitrim County Council €23,198
Promoting Responsible Outdoor Recreation Leitrim Development Company and Leave No Trace Ireland Leitrim Development Company € 30,000
The Leitrim Way, Installation of identical Start and End Signature Points for The Leitrim Way, Leitrim Development Company € 24,750.
Meanwhile Minister Feighan has highlighted several key projects funded in North Roscommon which include,
Doon Shore, Lough Key, Refurbish the toilet block/changing facility at Doon Shore (Lough Key) Roscommon County Council, €30,000
Lough Key Forest Park, Maintain and upgrade Lough Key Cycle way, Boyle to Lough Key Cycleway Roscommon County, €30,000
Roosky Trails, Roosky walking, running, and cycling- upgrade, Roscommon Leader Partnership, € 29,250
Outdoor Recreation sites, develop ‘quality framework’ and ensure comprehensive assessment of outdoor recreation, Roscommon County Council €30,000
Palace Neighbourhood Park, Elphin, Palace Neighbourhood Park, Elphin, Develop trails, install seating, solar lights and entrance gates/fencing Roscommon County Council, €18,900
“Funding will also be invested in 37 outdoor projects that are now at the early stages of development, these projects will receive up to €50,000. Funding for larger scale projects under Measures 2 and 3 of the scheme will be announced by Minister Humphreys in the coming weeks.
Minister Humphreys added: “Every county will benefit from today’s announcement so if you’re a walker, a swimmer, a cyclist or even a fisherman – check out the list to see what’s happening in your county.
The Minister of State at the Department of Health with responsibility for Well Being stated: “Getting active in the fresh air outdoors can be a tonic for the body and soul and this was brought home to us all during the pandemic.
“Some of these amenities are often hidden gems on our doorsteps so I’m encouraging people to get out and discover them over the rest of the Summer”, Minister Feighan concluded.
