Minister Humphreys announces funding to upgrade 43 walking and hiking trails across rural Ireland
- Foilsithe: 13 Aibreán 2024
- An t-eolas is déanaí: 12 Aibreán 2025
- Our Rural Future: Investment under ‘Walks Scheme’ to upgrade walks and hiking trails across 14 counties
- funding to resurface, reroute and improve trails in rural communities
- Minister Humphreys: "Our goal is to make Ireland a world class destination for adventure"
Minister for Rural and Community Development Heather Humphreys has announced the upgrade of 43 walking and hiking trails across rural Ireland.
Under the government’s Walks Scheme, over €408,000 will be provided to resurface, re-route and improve outdoor trails to benefit local communities, tourists, walkers and hikers alike.
The investment is designed to open up our countryside to visitors and make Ireland a world class destination for adventure tourism.
The funding will improve trail surfaces, drainage, waymarking and signage, enhancing these trails and the surrounding countryside.
It will also provide seating, picnic and recreation areas, and reroute some trails which will enhance the experience of those using them. These projects are being delivered in partnership with landowners, Local Development Companies, Community Trail Management Organisations and other stakeholders.
Under the Walks Scheme, funding is provided to farmers and other landholders to maintain the trails that cross their land.
Among the successful projects being announced today:
Hymany Way, Forum Connemara: Resurface trail and install drainage - €10,000
Dingle Way, North East West Kerry Development: Path upgrade, installation of new trail head map board in Tralee and installation of a self-closing pedestrian gate. - €10,000
Leitrim Way, Leitrim Development Company: Resurface trail, drainage and installation of a bog bridge, 2 picnic benches and a stile. - €10,000
Multeen Way, South Tipperary Development Company Ltd: Resurface trail and install drainage - €10,000
Western Way, South West Mayo Development Company: Replacement of damaged wooden bridge with galvanised version - €10,000
Wicklow Way, County Wicklow Partnership: Resurface trail and install reverse grade waterbars to assist drainage - €10,000
Sheep’s Head Way, West Cork Development Partnership: Upgrade of signage on trail and improving trail at Gortnakilla & Funeral Path - €10,000
Along with the recent announcement of 62 new trails approved to join the Walks Scheme, this funding will support the growth of outdoor recreation across rural Ireland and will provide high quality recreation opportunities which are key commitments of the ‘Embracing Ireland’s Outdoors’, National Outdoor Recreation Strategy 2023 – 2027.
Making the announcement, Minister Humphreys said:
“There is no better way of seeing our beautiful countryside than to use the many trails and walkways that are dotted around the country.
“These trails, many of which were created by volunteers and community groups, need to be cherished and maintained, so they can continue to be enjoyed by all.
“So today, I’m delighted to announce this funding to enhance these 43 trails across the country.
“These projects will also see investment into the local economy as they are carried out by small contractors using materials from local suppliers.
“This funding, along with my recent announcement of 62 new trails joining the Walks Scheme, underpins my department’s continuing commitment to invest in rural Ireland in line with ‘Our Rural Future’."
The Minister concluded:
“The collaboration between community groups and Local Development Companies behind the upgrade and enhancement of these trails is wonderful to see and I commend everyone for their great work.
“I would like to invite you to visit your local trails, and enjoy the beautiful sights, sounds and fresh air.”
Notes
The Department of Rural and Community Development was established to promote rural and community development and to support vibrant, inclusive and sustainable communities throughout Ireland.
Its focus is on strengthening community resilience and social cohesion, supporting communities so that they are empowered to face current and future challenges.
Walks Scheme Development Fund
Criteria for the funding:
- maximum €10,000 funding per project
- consideration will only be given to requests for funding for approved Walks Scheme trails
- the local development companies must demonstrate the necessity of the works for the continued good functioning of the trail
- the works must be completed within the calendar year
Details of projects funded are in the table below.
| County | Name of project | Description | Cost |
| Cavan | The Cavan Way: Re-route | A re-route of a 2km section of the Cavan Way trail. | €10,000 |
| Clare | East Clare Way: Section repair | Enhancement works including fencing replacement and installation of pedestrian gate on the East Clare Way. | €10,000 |
| Cork | Slí Gaeltacht Mhuscraí: Trail Improvements | Move rock from one part of the trail to another to help with boggy surface of wet area and steep incline of rock area. Also place flagstones over area of heavy outflow from nearby lake. | €8,619 |
| Cork | Sheep's Head Way Trail: improvements & signage | Updating and improving trail at Gortnakilla & Funeral Path and upgrade of signage on the trail. | €8,825 |
| Cork | Whiddy Island: Enhancement Works | Create a picnic area to enhance the trail. | €9,760 |
| Cork | Bere Island Trail: Improvements | Replace signage at Ardnakinna, West Island Loop, Doonbeg Loop, Rerrin Loop and Lonehart Loop. | €9,999 |
| Cork | Duhallow Way: Signage and benches Upgrades | Installation of 4 infomercial lecterns and 4 benches. | €10,000 |
| Donegal | Blue Stack Way: Binbane bog road upgrade | Upgrade and enhancement of a green bog road including drain reopening and resurfacing. | €10,000 |
| Galway | Hymany Way: Trail Repair | Extensive ground works on 1km of the trail, including levelling the ground, installation of drains and resurfacing. | €10,000 |
| Galway | Western Way: Trail Repair | Ecological screening followed by drainage and resurfacing works on several sections of the trail between Tullyconnor and Leenane, which have become waterlogged. | €10,000 |
| Galway | Slí Chonamara: Trail Repair & Improvement | Ecological screening followed by repair and protection works to a section of the trail, installation of two benches and upgrade to waymarking and safety signage. | €10,000 |
| Kerry | Dingle Way: Enhancements | Path upgrade, installation of new trail head map board in Tralee, and installation of a self-closing pedestrian gate. | €10,000 |
| Kerry | Kerry Way: Creation of a recreation area | Develop a rest stop consisting of 3 semi-circular stone walls to create a Celtic cross, which would act as a seating/ shelter area. | €10,000 |
| Kerry | Emlagh: Reroute | Reroute the trail to include views of Ballinskelligs Bay. | €10,000 |
| Kilkenny | Brandon Hill: Summit Upgrade and new mapboard | Removal of a derelict building and install a mapboard at Graiguenamanagh. | €10,000 |
| Kilkenny | Freshford: Surface Upgrade | Resurfacing of wet muddy stretches along 1km of the trail. | €10,000 |
| Kilkenny | Nore Valley: Trail Upgrades | Fencing 600m to separate livestock from walkers, removal of a fallen tree and resurface of 20m of trail that floods annually. | €10,000 |
| Kilkenny | O'Gorman's Lane: Ash Dieback removal | Removal of Ash trees on a 400m stretch of the trail which are suffering with ash dieback and covered with ivy, making them prone to falling. | €10,000 |
| Laois | Binnianea Cullahill: Trail Improvements | Trail surface restoration along various sections and installation of signage and an interpretive unit. | €8,635 |
| Laois | Slieve Bloom: Enhancement Works | Maintenance work to include trail furniture, mapboard and signage. | €10,000 |
| Leitrim | Leitrim Way Trail: Improvements | Resurfacing and installation of drainage to repair trail and installation of a bog bridge, 2 picnic benches and a stile. | €10,000 |
| Limerick | Attychraan Loop Walk: Trail Improvements | Replace existing drainage and surface on a damaged section of the trail. | €9,600 |
| Limerick | Ballyhoura Way: Ecological & planning Assessment | Ecological Assessment to examine possibility of re-route of the Ballyhoura Way between Tipperary Town and Glen of Aherlow along the River Ara. | €10,000 |
| Limerick | Molanna Loop: River Bank Stabilisation | Works to address severe erosion along the bank of the River Keale. | €10,000 |
| Louth | Táin Way: Signage Improvement | Improve signage on the Táin Way including the re-route at Slieve Foye Forest Park and Ravensdale Forest car park. | €9,990 |
| Louth | Slieve Foye: Upgrades | Installation of a safety platform on a steep embankment and replacement of fencing. | €10,000 |
| Mayo | Clogher Loops: Enhancement Works | Remove concrete seating and replace with long lasting plastic seating, strengthen 500m of existing track to prevent degradation and replace fencing. | €10,000 |
| Mayo | Croagh Patrick Heritage: Trail Improvements | Re-route current trail off road on an existing overgrown track into Brownhall wood to provide a more scenic walk and improve safety of the trail. | €10,000 |
| Mayo | Western Way: Trail Improvements | Replace rotten wooden bridge with galvanised bridge. | €10,000 |
| Offaly | Offaly Way Trail: Improvements | Replacement of a rotten footbridge and general maintenance on parts of the trail. | €10,000 |
| Roscommon | Miners Way & Historical Trail: Enhancement works | Install a self-closing gate and repairs to the trail surface where prone to flooding. | €6,614 |
| Roscommon | Lung Lough Gara Way: Enhancement works | Installation of drainage pipes to take away excess water, and resurfacing to raise up the section and improve accessibility. | €8,849 |
| Roscommon | Suck Valley: Enhancement works | Replacement of a damaged footbridge. | €9,700 |
| Sligo | Aughris Head: Impact Assessment Funding | Ecological impact assessment for the installation of a viewing platform along the trail. | €1,000 |
| Sligo | Miners Way & Historical Trail: Bricklieves – Land drainage improvement works | Installation of drainage on a section of mountain trail that is subject to flooding. | €10,000 |
| Sligo | Keash Hill: Remedial works | Step the remaining part of the trail with stone to enhance the surface. | €10,000 |
| Tipperary | Lough Derg Way: Improvement works at the Newtown Callows | Cut back all encroaching scrub and heavy vegetation on the river embankment, and resurface the trail surface. | €8,000 |
| Tipperary | Kilcommon Pilgrim Loop: Improvement works | Resurface and improve drainage on a laneway which is prone to flooding every year. | €9,850 |
| Tipperary | Multeen Way: Provide a raised pathway | Provide a raised pathway and drainage on 285m of the trail. | €10,000 |
| Tipperary | St Declan's Way: Re-route at Loughkent | Cut back overgrown hedgerows and resurfacing along the trail. | €10,000 |
| Waterford | Anne Valley Way Trail: Resurfacing | Resurfacing of the trail | €10,000 |
| Waterford | St. Declan's Way Trail: Reroute | Reroute of the trail taking it off road | €10,000 |
| Wicklow | Wicklow Way: Garryhoe Trail Improvement | Resurface and installation of drainage on a section of the trail. | €9,400 |
Our Rural Future
Our Rural Future is the whole-of-government policy for rural Ireland for the period 2021-2025. It represents a new milestone in the approach to rural development policy for Ireland and adopts a more strategic, ambitious and holistic approach to investing in and maximising opportunities for rural areas.
The Walks Scheme
The Walks Scheme facilitates the development and maintenance of key walking trails by private landholders. The scheme is administered by 21 Local Development Companies (LDCs) who deliver the scheme in their area on behalf of the department.
The department funds 21 Rural Recreation Officers (RROs) in these LDCs, with a contribution from Fáilte Ireland, to assist with the delivery of the Scheme and support other rural recreation initiatives at a local level.
Following an announcement by Minister Humphreys on 28 February 2024, there is currently approval in principle for 142 trails to be included on the Walks Scheme. To date, 69 trails have been brought onto the Scheme with work underway to bring the remaining trails onto the Scheme as soon as possible.
Walk Scheme Expansion Expressions of Interest
Embracing Ireland's Outdoors – the National Outdoor Recreation Strategy 2023-2027, has committed to expand the Walks Scheme to 150 trails by end of 2024, and as such the department is now inviting expressions of interest from LDCs for new trails and substantial extensions to existing trails. Potential applicants (for example: trail management committees, community groups, local authorities, and other similar entities) should be advised that expressions of interest must be made through LDCs in respect of trails that are eligible for inclusion in the scheme. The closing date for EOIs is 11 October 2024. Access further information.