Senator Aisling Dolan - Strong Voice, New Vision.
Senator Aisling Dolan welcomed close to €400,000 in outdoor recreational funds for Co. Galway. Minister Heather Humphreys announced overall funding of €6 million under the Department of Rural & Community Development.
This will fund 200 outdoor adventure projects across rural Ireland will attract visitors to mountain trails, forest walks, rivers, lakes and beaches.
The Fine Gael Senator stated
“Fantastic news for a number of projects across Galway with many community groups working with Galway County Council, Galway Rural Development and Forum Connemara. The Outdoor Recreational Infrastructure fund develops new walkways, cycleways and parks in rural areas and gives lots more choice to families planning days out with young and old.
“My colleague Minister Heather Humphreys has announced €400,000 for projects in Galway to enhance outdoor amenities for local communities and this is part of ‘Our Rural Future’ strategy.
“The Beara Breifne Trail is a well-known walking route from Cork to Cavan and in honour of the march in 1602 by Dónal Cam O’Sullivan Beare and his clan. Successful funding of over €28k is being allocated to upgrade the 80km Hymany Way from Portumna through Kellysgrove bogs along the Grand Canal to Ballinasloe and onto Aughrim, Killure and onto Ballygar. This trail runs through ten counties from Cork to Cavan and it goes along by the River Suck boundary of Galway and Roscommon and also along the Grand Canal. Thank you to Galway Rural Development for this application and to volunteers in Aughrim Development Association and Ballinasloe Walks & Trails for maintaining this route. In a few years time, we will also have the Galway to Dublin Cycleway coming along some of these sections as well.”
“The Bellew Riverside Project will be a welcome investment to upgrade the park and green area right in the middle of Mountbellew and encourage more people to explore this area. It was developed in the 1990s with Mountbellew District Development and this application with Galway Rural Development will rejuvenate the area. It is also part of a wide range of heritage and walking trails at Mountbellew including The Walled Garden, Mountbellew Forest Park and Galway’s Living Bog at Carrownagappul.
“The plan to redevelop the landfill in Kilconnell by Galway County Council will give a blueprint for other landfills in the county including in Poolboy, Ballinasloe in terms of remediation for public park and amenity. It will further develop the activities for local community and visitors to Kilconnell in addition to the community park and Kilconnell Abbey”
“We also have a project to upgrade the loop walking trail around Fras Clooncon bog in Glenamaddy and local Councillor Peter Keaveney has been an advocate of this development”
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.
“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 Humphreys concluded.
