Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys, has today (Thursday, August 15) announced funding of €3 million to develop and upgrade visitor and recreational amenities at Coillte forest parks across Ireland.
The investment is part of a strategic partnership between the Department of Rural and Community Development (DCRD) and Coillte to maintain and manage existing trails in Coillte forests, and to develop new recreation opportunities.
The funding will be used to deliver a range of projects such as walking trails, carpark improvements, installation of footbridges and new toilet facilities.
Among the larger projects are €200,000 for the design and construction of a new car park entrance at Deerpark, Co. Cavan and €150,000 for a wood pond rejuvenation project in Belleek, Co. Mayo.
Coillte
The funding announcement coincides with the release of data today showing the top 10 most visited Coillte parked in the country.
Rossmore Park in Monaghan continues to be ranked number one with over 357,000 visitors in 2023.
The top 10 most visited Coillte parks (non-ticketed) are as follows:
- Rossmore Forest Park, Co. Monaghan – 357,834 visitors
- Ticknock Recreation Area , Co. Dublin – 244,011 visitors
- Donadea Forest Park, Co Kildare – 203,543 visitors
- Jenkinstown Wood, Co. Kilkenny – 89,610 visitors
- Killykeen Forest Park Co.Cavan – 88,674 visitors
- Belleek, Co. Mayo – 86,879 visitors
- Hazelwood, Co. Sligo – 85,867 visitors
- Tintern Abbey, Co. Wexford – 64,582 visitors
- Portumna Forest Park, Co. Galway – 59,329 visitors
- Ards Forest Park, Co. Donegal – 45,195 visitors
Minister Humphreys said that “adventure tourism continues to go from strength to strength in Ireland”.
“We have seen a huge surge in visitor numbers to our forest parks in recent years and I want to see that continue.
“I’m delighted that my department is working collaboratively with Coillte so that we can upgrade and improve the experience for visitors,” she added.
In 2023, Coillte recorded over 2.74 million visits throughout 51 of its recreational sites using visitor counters.
The department has a strategic partnership in place with Coillte to provide €3 million each year for the period from 2022-2026 to enhance recreational facilities on Coillte land.
This builds on the previous five-year agreement which provided funding of €11 million over the period 2017-2021.
In 2023, Coillte delivered several key capital projects throughout the country, to the value of €1,374,420.
Maintenance work was carried out on over 300 recreation sites and long-distance trails last year.
Imelda Hurley, Coillte chief executive, said that the funding provided by the department will help the State-owned commercial forestry business “to further enhance the experience for visitors to our recreational forests across the country”.
“As Ireland’s largest provider of outdoor recreation, we’re delighted to welcome an estimated 18 million visits to our recreational areas from across Ireland and indeed, further afield.
“Getting out in nature has proven positive benefits for people’s wellbeing and we look forward to further developing our recreational amenities for everyone to enjoy,” she said.