Coillte announces Sustainable Development Plan for Lough Key Forest and Activity Park in conjunction with Roscommon County Council

• Project is boosted by €1.2m funding awarded by Fáilte Ireland as part of the EU Just Transition Fund to support the creation of the development plan
• Upgrades to visitor centre, local trails, and water activities proposed as part of a vision to enhance Lough Key Forest and Activity Park as a world class visitor destination

20th June: Coillte, the Semi-state forestry company, in conjunction with Roscommon County Council, has announced plans to develop Lough Key Forest and Activity Park. Currently at the early stages of concept and design, this sustainable development plan is part of Coillte’s strategy to develop more world class visitor destinations in Ireland.  The project has been awarded €1.2m by Fáilte Ireland’s Regenerative Tourism and Placemaking Scheme, co-funded by the EU and the Government of Ireland under the EU Just Transition fund. The funding will be used to help fund the creation of the development plan to enhance the visitor experience at Lough Key Forest and Activity Park.

Among the range of enhancements being considered are:

• An activity centre for children and adults;
• New forest experiences to further enhance the existing aerial adventures and tower experiences;
• An enhanced beach and swimming area at the lake;
• A meadow/lawn events area;
• Expanded dining and on-site retail facilities offering local artisan foods and crafts;
• Improved parking at the site.

Lough Key Forest and Activity Park in County Roscommon offers 350 hectares of forest, semi-natural woodland and parkland set on the stunning Lough Key.  It already draws thousands of visitors each year to the aerial forest adventures and electric bike trails, Boda Borg and Adventure Play Kingdom, kayaking and the boat tours on the lake, or simply to experience nature by walking through the woodlands and forest.

Mark Carlin, MD Coillte Forest said, “This project is part of Coillte’s strategy to create more world class visitor destinations and increase recreation spaces nationally.  Investment in enhancing the visitor experience at Lough Key Forest and Activity Park will encourage local, national and international visitors to stay longer and spend more in Co. Roscommon and Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands, driving economic and employment opportunities for local communities. It is our intention that the same high-quality standard that we applied to the development of Beyond the Trees Avondale will be brought to this project.  We envisage that the investment in enhancing the amenities and facilities will create a truly world class visitor destination for Co. Roscommon.  We’re delighted to receive this funding from Fáilte Ireland which will be used to support our vision for Lough Key Forest and Activity Park.

As we develop the plan for the site, in conjunction with Roscommon County Council, we will seek the views of local stakeholders and communities, and there will be a number of opportunities to take feedback on board before we finalise the plans for the park.”

Shane Tiernan, Chief Executive, Roscommon County Council said, ‘We are delighted to receive this funding from Fáilte Ireland which will part fund the enhancement of Lough Key Forest and Activity Park. The park is an important outdoor recreational facility for Boyle and the wider county, but it is also an important tourist destination which boosts to the local economy. We very much look forward to developing the park further and welcoming more local, national and international visitors as our plans progress.’

Paddy Mathews, Head of Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands at Fáilte Ireland said “We are pleased to announce our initial investment grants for projects under our Regenerative Tourism and Placemaking scheme, which includes this exciting development for Lough Key for Coillte in conjunction with Roscommon County Council.

The transformative projects that are being funded under the Regenerative Tourism and Placemaking Scheme, and which span the entire region, will create more reasons for domestic and international tourists to visit Roscommon and Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands. This will generate new opportunities for employment, empower local businesses, and enhance local communities, while strengthening the appeal of the Midlands as a tourist destination for generations to come. We look forward to working with Coillte and Roscommon County Council to deliver this project.”

ENDS

Media contact:

Conor McCrave

Q4 Public Relations

087 7650970

Email: conor.mccrave@q4pr.ie

About Coillte

Coillte, Ireland’s semi-state forestry company, is responsible for managing 440,000 hectares of primarily forested lands. It is the nation’s largest forester and producer of certified wood, a natural, renewable and sustainable resource. Coillte is also the largest provider of outdoor recreation space in Ireland, it enables wind-energy on the estate, processes forestry by-products and undertakes nature rehabilitation projects of scale. Coillte delivers the multiple benefits of forestry, including forests for climate, for nature, for wood and for people. For further information visit www.coillte.ie.

EU Just Transition Fund

The EU Just Transition Fund (JTF) is a new fund created to support the regions and communities in Europe that are most negatively affected by the transition to climate neutrality and to promote socio-economic transition, ensuring that no one is left behind.

The EU JTF aims to address employment, economic, social and environmental impacts that come with the shift away from carbon-intense activities. The funding programme in Ireland will support the areas in the wider Midlands where communities have been negatively affected by the closure of peat production and peat-fired energy generation facilities.

Ireland is set to receive up to €84.5 million from the EU Just Transition Fund over the period to 2027. With the Government of Ireland’s match funding using Exchequer resources, up to €169 million will be available in the period up to 2027.

Investment through the EU Just Transition Fund programme will be targeted to support the the diversification of local economies and the creation of new opportunities that complement the assets of the territory. The fund will also restore degraded peatlands and regenerate industrial heritage assets, as well as invest in smart and sustainable local mobility so that local communities are able to benefit from the economic opportunities and amenities.

For full details on the programme and its strategic priorities can be found at EU Just Transition Fund in Ireland and https://emra.ie/eu-jtf/