Nine Laois trails to share over €310,000
A section of the beautiful Leafy Loop walk in Durrow. File pic
MORE than €310,000 has been awarded to outdoor recreation projects in Laois, as part of national funding announced on Thursday.
Nine projects will share a total of €312,325, which will enhance popular walking trails around the county.
The funding will go to Fr Breen Park in Abbeyleix; Carrigmeal Woodland Trail in Dysart; Fossey Loop Walk in Timahoe; Kilminchy Lakes in Portlaoise; SVT (Stradbally, Vicarstown and Timahoe) River Barrow Blueway; Cullohill Mountain; River Erkina and Leafy Loop trails in Durrow; the Slieve Bloom Way and a dedicated Laois Trails website.
A grant of €40,000 will go to Abbeyleix Vitality Hub for the provision of a trailhead in Fr Breen Park, which will link existing walks in the area.
A further €40,000 will go towards trail enhancement at the Fossey Loop Walk, resurfacing 1km of trail and developing an accessible route to the waterfall.
In Portlaoise, €40,000 will be spent on phase two of the Kilminchy Lakes walking/jogging trail, which will see the installation of 700m of pathway for joggers and walkers as well as wheelchair and buggy users.
Also awarded €40,000 is the SVT Activity and Wellness Hub for an equipment storage container, four e-bikes, an accessible bike passenger unit and an e-bike charging unit on the Barrow Blueway.
The Slieve Bloom Way and ancillary loops will get €39,600 for maintenance and essential repair work.
Carrigmeal Woodland Trail will get €32,310 for upgrade of surfaces, fencing and website development, while the Laois Walks committee will receive €32,400 for the provision of a dedicated Laois trails website.
A total of €39,600 will go towards upgrades on the Cullohill Mountain looped walks, including infrastructural improvements, environmental enhancements and safety measures.
The smallest grant of €8,415 has been provided for improvements to the Erkina River Bank and Durrow Leafy Loop trails, including signage upgrades and the addition of information boards along the Erkina walking trail and Bishop’s Wood section of the Durrow Leafy Loop.
Welcoming the grants, Laois TD Seán Fleming said they would make ‘a significant difference’ to all projects.
He said: ‘When we visit these recreational spaces, we can see the positive effect of the investment in these places. These recreational projects have a major positive impact on the wellbeing of the local community and all people who visit these areas and they are also a boost to local tourism and business. This funding will showcase what our Lovely Laois has to offer.’
