Minister Calleary announces over €485,000 to upgrade walking and hiking trails across rural Ireland
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From: Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht
- Published on: 21 May 2026
- Last updated on: 21 May 2026
- Investment to improve 52 trails listed on Department’s Walks Scheme
- Funding to resurface, re-route and improve trails in rural communities
- Department working with over 2,900 landholders to open the countryside to hikers, tourists and families alike
Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD, has today (Thursday, 21 May 2026) announced further investment of over €485,000 for 52 small capital projects on Walks Scheme trails across the country.
Focused specifically on trails that are part of the Department’s Walks Scheme, this funding is being provided to resurface, re-route and enhance these walking trails. In keeping with Embracing Ireland’s Outdoors, the national outdoor recreation strategy, the investment is designed to ensure that these trails are maintained to a high standard, benefitting local communities and alike.
Making the announcement, Minister Calleary said:
“Walking in Ireland’s beautiful countryside has wide-ranging benefits for the walker and local communities. There are a wide variety of trails across the country, from coastal trails to forest and mountain walks, making it easier for walkers to be immersed in nature.
“I am delighted to announce this funding to support the further enhancement of these Walks Scheme trails, so that they can continue to be enjoyed by all.
“This funding demonstrates my Department’s commitment to working in partnership with the Local Development Companies, landowners, trail management organisations and community groups in the development and enhancement of walking trails throughout the country. I want to again thank the landowners for making their land available and the local community groups that work tirelessly to develop and manage these trails.”
Under the Walks Scheme, modest funding is provided to farmers and other landholders to maintain the walking trails that cross their land. Additional funding for small-scale capital works on these trails is being announced today.
Among the successful projects include:
- Slí Chonamara, Co Galway - Trail Upgrade and Repair - €10,000
- Croagh Patrick Heritage Trail, Co Mayo – Path and fencing improvements - €10,000.
- Duhallow Way, Co Cork – Walking bridge replacement, fencing replacement, crossing stile and information lectern installation - €10,000.
- Kilmacoliver Woodland Loop, Co Kilkenny– Surface upgrades and improving accessibility - €10,000.
- Rerrin Loop Bere Island, Bere Island, Co Cork – Surface improvements with installation of new signage and waymarkers - €10,000.
- Waterford Estuary Coastal Path, Co Waterford – Installation of location identification signage, replacement of information board - €10,000.
The full list of approved projects can be found here.
Notes
Embracing Ireland’s Outdoor, National Outdoor Recreation Strategy 2023 – 2027
Launched in November 2022, Ireland’s first-ever National Outdoor Recreation Strategy 2023-2027: Embracing Ireland’s Outdoors provides a strategic, collaborative framework to facilitate the consolidation and sustainable growth of the outdoor recreation sector.
The Strategy will see the development of a more coordinated approach to outdoor recreation on a national and local level through the development of County Outdoor Recreation Plans and the establishment of County Outdoor Recreation Committees and Stakeholder Forums.
The Walks Scheme
The Walks Scheme facilitates the development and maintenance of key walking trails by private landholders. Under the Scheme, funding is provided to farmers and other landholders to maintain the walking trails that cross their land.
The Scheme, which is operated by the Department of Rural and Community Development in conjunction with local development companies, already has 2,797 farmers and landholders participating.
The scheme is administered by 22 Local Development Companies (LDCs) who deliver the scheme in their area on behalf of the Department. Funding is also provided to Local Development Companies for the management of the scheme and the upkeep of the trails.
The Department funds 23 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.
There is currently approval in principle for 164 trails to be included on the Walks Scheme. To date, 138 trails have been brought onto the Scheme with work underway to bring the remaining trails onto the Scheme as soon as possible.
For more information on the National Outdoor Recreation Strategy 2023-2027, see here.
Walks Scheme Development Fund
Maximum €10,000 funding for small-scale capital works on trails already supported through the Walks Scheme