€383,173 in Outdoor Recreation Funds Announced

Almost €400,000 in funding has been secured for County Cavan under the Outdoor Recreation Scheme, Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD has announced.

Together, Cavan County Council and Cavan County Local Development have secured funding of €387,173 towards improving recreational facilities such as walking trails, cycleways, water-based amenities and mountain access routes in County Cavan.

A total of €343,073 has been awarded to Cavan projects under Measure 1 of the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS), with the creation of a new looped trail through scenic boglands at Mullahoran, upgrade works at the Castle Lake loop trail in Bailieborough, and a number of trail improvements in the Cuilcagh Lakelands UNESCO Global Geopark among the successful applications.

A further €44,100 has been approved under the ORIS Project Development Measure for a feasibility study which will see Cavan County Local Development explore the possibility of restoring the famous ‘Lake of the Cures’ at Loughanleagh, a lake at the top of the east Cavan peak, which was widely known for its reputed healing powers.

Cathaoirleach of Cavan County Council Cllr John Paul Feeley welcomed the announcement, stating, “Cavan is blessed with an abundance of natural resources, and this funding will aid the development and improvement of recreation amenities across the county, which will benefit residents and visitors alike. We are grateful to Minister Dara Calleary and his Department for their ongoing support of rural communities in County Cavan”.

Cavan County Council Director of Services for Planning, Community, and Economic Development, Mr Brendan Jennings said, “This latest tranche of funding will significantly enhance the network of trails and recreational amenities in County Cavan for all. A great deal of effort has been put in by staff in Cavan County Council and Cavan County Local Development in preparing competitive applications, and I look forward to working together to continue to deliver these important projects in the near future”.

Speaking following the announcement, Minister Calleary said, “Investment in the outdoors is so important to us all from a physical and mental health perspective. I am very happy to be making this announcement today which will see over a wide range of capital projects developed and delivered all across the country, adding to our already impressive outdoor recreation offering.

“The Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme continues to deliver on the commitments in Our Rural Future and the National Outdoor Recreation Strategy, ‘Embracing Ireland’s Outdoors’, and builds on unprecedented levels of investment in the sector in recent years.”

The full list of funded projects is listed below: