Eight Clare projects have been included in the 189 nationally to benefit from €3.5m in funding to enhance natural amenities.
Strengthening rural Ireland as a destination for adventure tourism is one of the goals behind the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) which is designed to support the enhancement of dozens of recreational amenities such as our mountain trails, forest walks, beaches, rivers, lakes, blueways and greenways.
Under measure one, the maximum investment is €20,000 with larger scale projects set to benefit under measure two where there are grants of up to €200,000 and measure three which has funding to the tune of €500,000, both of these are to be announced by Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys (FG) in the coming weeks. Funding of up to 90% of the total approved project costs is awarded, with the additional 10% to be provided from other sources.
Cahermurphy Looped Walk in Flagmount and the 12 O’Clock Hills in Sixmilebridge have both received an allocation of €20,000 each. The Cliffs of Moher Coastal Walk in Liscannor has been granted €19,576.77 with €18,182.70 for the Miltown Malbay River and a section of the West Clare Railway Walk in Miltown Malbay.
€18,000 has been set aside for the Shannon Embankment Walk in Drumgeely, the Ballybeg Woodland in Ennis is to benefit from funding of €17,889.47 with the Clooney House Walking Trail getting €17,592.11 and the Ballyvaughan Wood Loop to receive €17,472.60.
Outdoor amenities are benefiting from “an unprecedented level of investment”, Minister Humphreys believed. “We will carry out upgrades to our mountain trails and forest walks so that we can further unlock the beauty of our rural countryside. And under this fund, we will continue to develop our greenways, cycleways and blueways. COVID-19 has given us a newfound appreciation for our great outdoors”.
Minister Humphreys was confident the €3.5m would help to make Rural Ireland a “destination of choice for outdoor pursuits and adventure tourism. By drawing more visitors to experience the beauty of our rural towns and villages, we will help further support our rural economy to rebuild post Covid-19”.
A “strong focus” on Clare’s trails in the funding was welcomed by Deputy Cathal Crowe (FF). “As a rural county so reliant on tourism, it is vital that we continue to invest and adapt in what we have to offer to those coming to visit our county. We have a strong product to offer but increasingly, we are looking at our more niche tourism amenities to attract visitors in – but equally, these facilities are a wonderful offering for those of us living locally”.
