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 | €10,000 | |
| Clare | East Clare Way: Section repair | €10,000 | |
| Cork | Slí Gaeltacht Mhuscraí: Trail Improvements | €8,619 | |
| Cork | Sheep's Head Way Trail: improvements & signage | €8,825 | |
| Cork | Whiddy Island: Enhancement Works | Create a picnic area to enhance the trail. | €9,760 |
| Cork | Bere Island Trail: Improvements | €9,999 | |
| Cork | Duhallow Way: Signage and benches Upgrades | €10,000 | |
| Donegal | Blue Stack Way: Binbane bog road upgrade | €10,000 | |
| Galway | Hymany Way: Trail Repair | €10,000 | |
| Galway | Western Way: Trail Repair | €10,000 | |
| Galway | Slí Chonamara: Trail Repair & Improvement | €10,000 | |
| Kerry | Dingle Way: Enhancements | €10,000 | |
| Kerry | Kerry Way: Creation of a recreation area | €10,000 | |
| Kerry | Emlagh: Reroute | €10,000 | |
| Kilkenny | Brandon Hill: Summit Upgrade and new mapboard | €10,000 | |
| Kilkenny | Freshford: Surface Upgrade | €10,000 | |
| Kilkenny | Nore Valley: Trail Upgrades | €10,000 | |
| Kilkenny | O'Gorman's Lane: Ash Dieback removal | €10,000 | |
| Laois | Binnianea Cullahill: Trail Improvements | €8,635 | |
| Laois | Slieve Bloom: Enhancement Works | €10,000 | |
| Leitrim | Leitrim Way Trail: Improvements | €10,000 | |
| Limerick | Attychraan Loop Walk: Trail Improvements | €9,600 | |
| Limerick | Ballyhoura Way: Ecological & planning Assessment | €10,000 | |
| Limerick | Molanna Loop: River Bank Stabilisation | €10,000 | |
| Louth | Táin Way: Signage Improvement | €9,990 | |
| Louth | Slieve Foye: Upgrades | €10,000 | |
| Mayo | Clogher Loops: Enhancement Works | €10,000 | |
| Mayo | Croagh Patrick Heritage: Trail Improvements | €10,000 | |
| Mayo | Western Way: Trail Improvements | €10,000 | |
| Offaly | Offaly Way Trail: Improvements | €10,000 | |
| Roscommon | Miners Way & Historical Trail: Enhancement works | €6,614 | |
| Roscommon | Lung Lough Gara Way: Enhancement works | €8,849 | |
| Roscommon | Suck Valley: Enhancement works | Replacement of a damaged footbridge. | €9,700 |
| Sligo | Aughris Head: Impact Assessment Funding | €1,000 | |
| Sligo | €10,000 | ||
| Sligo | Keash Hill: Remedial works | €10,000 | |
| Tipperary | €8,000 | ||
| Tipperary | Kilcommon Pilgrim Loop: Improvement works | €9,850 | |
| Tipperary | Multeen Way: Provide a raised pathway | €10,000 | |
| Tipperary | St Declan's Way: Re-route at Loughkent | €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 | €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.