- 22 new trails, across 10 different counties, added to the Walks Scheme.
- 164 trails, involving 2,850 landholders, now supported under the initiative.
- Funding of €465,000 announced to enhance and upgrade 49 walking trails across the country.
Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary, has today (Friday, 16 May) announced 22 new trails that will be joining his Department’s Walks Scheme, as well as over €465,000 in funding for projects to support and enhance 49 trails already on the Walks Scheme.
The 22 new trails announced today are spread over 10 counties and include trails such as Siúlóid an tSáis in Kerry, involving 40 landowners, and the Keenagh Loop in Mayo, with over 20 landowners. There are also two trails located on Clare Island. The details of the 22 new trails can be found in the notes section below.
In addition, Minister Calleary also announced funding of over €465,000 under the Walks Scheme Development Fund to support and enhance 49 trails that are already on the Walks Scheme.
Projects supported include small scale trail surface improvements, signage and waymarking, new picnic and recreation areas, and rerouting of trails away from busy roads. These projects will be led by local development companies in collaboration with
landowners, community trail management organisations and other stakeholders. The list of projects is available in the notes section below.
Making the announcement, Minister Calleary said:
“In Ireland, one of our most valuable resources is our beautiful countryside. We are very fortunate to have wonderful walking trails all across the country and to have generous landowners who are willing to allow the public access to trails that cross their lands.
“I am pleased to announce today the approval in principle for 22 trails to join the Walks Scheme, as well as funding to support the further enhancement of 49 trails already on the scheme.
“My department is committed to supporting the development, maintenance and promotion of recreational infrastructure in line with the aims of ‘Embracing Ireland’s Outdoors,’ Irelands national outdoor recreation strategy.
“I want to thank the land owners in particular, for providing these opportunities. There is no doubting the health and wellbeing benefits provided by these trails, and the economic impact they can also provide by driving visitor numbers to rural Ireland.”
The announcement today fulfils a commitment in Embracing Ireland’s Outdoors, the National Outdoor Recreation Strategy 2023-2027, to increase the number of trails on the Walks Scheme to 150.
Discussing the announcement, Minister of State Jerry Buttimer said:
“This Department is committed to supporting the local development companies who in turn are working in collaboration with community groups in the development and enhancement of these trails. I wish to thank all the local community groups involved for their work.
“The positive impact that these trails have on local communities cannot be overstated. I would encourage everyone to seek out their local trail and to discover the beauty of the countryside around them.”
Our Rural Future
Our Rural Future is the whole-of-government policy for rural Ireland for the period 2021-2025. It offers a blueprint for a thriving and inclusive rural Ireland and adopts a more strategic, ambitious and holistic approach to investing in and maximising opportunities for rural areas. The 2025 Our Rural Future Work Plan and the 7th Our Rural Future Progress Report are now available on the Department’s website.
Embracing Ireland’s Outdoors, National Outdoor Recreation Strategy 2023-2027
Embracing Ireland’s Outdoors is a cross-Government stakeholder-led strategy which was developed in collaboration with Comhairle na Tuaithe. The strategy will lead, guide and facilitate the sustainable development and management of the outdoor recreation sector for the next five years. It also aims to increase participation, to realise social, health and economic benefits.
The Walks Scheme
The Walks Scheme facilitates the development and maintenance of key walking trails by private landholders. The scheme is administered by 22 Local Development Companies (LDCs) who deliver the scheme in their area on behalf of the Department.
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 142 trails to be included on the Walks Scheme. To date, 101 trails have been brought onto the Scheme with work underway to bring the remaining trails onto the Scheme as soon as possible. This will entail the Local Development Companies identifying the landowners along the trail and developing workplans for each of them which will set out the work involved in maintaining their section of the trail.
The addition of the 22 new trails announced today will being to 164 the number of trails with approval in principle to join the Walks Scheme.
For more information on the National Outdoor Recreation Strategy 2023-2027 see here and details of the Walks Scheme can be found here.
List of 22 trails approved in principle to join the Walks Scheme
| County | Name of Trail | Name of responsible Local Development Company |
| Cavan | Bruse Hill Walkway | Cavan County Local Development |
| Cork | Yew Tree Hill Loop Walk | West Cork Development Company |
| Kerry | Siúlóid an tSáis | North East West Kerry |
| Leitrim | Fowley’s Fall | Leitrim Development Company |
| Leitrim | O’Rourke’s Table | Leitrim Development Company |
| Limerick | An Gleann Beag Loop | Ballyhoura Development |
| Limerick | Lough Ghe Way | Ballyhoura Development |
| Limerick | The Knights Walk | Ballyhoura Development |
| Mayo | Fawnglass Loop – Clare Island Loops | Comhar na nOileán CTR |
| Mayo | Knocknaveena Loop – Clare Island Loops | Comhar na nOileán CTR |
| Mayo | Keenagh Loop | South West Mayo Development Company CLG |
| Mayo | Newport Coastal Trail | South West Mayo Development Company CLG |
| Roscommon | Carrowbehy/Cahir Raised Bog Walk | Roscommon Leader Partnership |
| Roscommon | Kiltullagh Church Walk | Roscommon Leader Partnership |
| Roscommon | Knockvicar Looped Bog Walk | Roscommon Leader Partnership |
| Roscommon | Tarmon Bog Walk | Roscommon Leader Partnership |
| Tipperary | Vee Valley | South Tipperary Development Company |
| Waterford | Ramp Boreen Trail | Waterford Leader Company |
| Wexford | Jean Kennedy Smith Trail | Wexford Local Development |
| Wexford | Rosslare Cliff Walk Trail | Wexford Local Development |
| Wexford | Urrin Riverside Trail Enniscorthy | Wexford Local Development |
| Wexford | Ringwood Trail | Wexford Local Development |
List of 49 approved projects under Walks Scheme Development Fund
| Local Development Company | Name of Project | Description | Cost |
| Ballyhoura Development Company | Ballyhoura Way – Trail upgrades | Re-routing to take the trail off road. Works to include trail profiling, fencing, waymarking and signage. | €10,000.00 |
| Ballyhoura Development Company | Molanna Loop – Trail repairs and upgrades | Repairs to stiles, gates, steps, recreational areas, drainage, trail surfacing and fencing. | €10,000.00 |
| Ballyhoura Development Company | Moore Abbey Loop – Trail extension to historic lime kiln | Groundworks, trail-surfacing and installation of stream bridge to give walkers access to native woodland and a historic lime kiln. | €10,000.00 |
| Cavan County Local Development | Cavan Way – Re-route | Resurfacing of pathway leading out from the Shannon Pot to prevent pedestrians from walking on the road and create a safer and more comfortable route. | €10,000.00 |
| Clare Local Development Company | Blackhead Loop – Trail works | Replacement of a number of gates on the Blackhead loop and installation of new signage. | €5,856.00 |
| Clare Local Development Company | Burren Way – Upgrade of signage and mapboards | Replace two old mapboards and upgrade signage on Burren Way. | €9,256.00 |
| Clare Local Development Company | East Clare Way – Trail surface works | Upgrade and repair trail surface in the Craiglea area. | €9,890.00 |
| Clare Local Development Company | Wood Loop Ballyvaughan – Trail upgrade works | Replace damaged directional signage and gravel works on farm road section. | €8,025.00 |
| Co. Wicklow Partnership | Wicklow Way – Trails repairs | Trail resurfacing due to damage from weather and farm machinery. | €10,000.00 |
| Comhar na nOileán | Beara Way Dursey Island – Picnic Area | Provide a picnic and seating area on Dursey Island trail. | €10,000.00 |
| Comhar na nOileán | Whiddy Island – Interpretation of islands history | New signage boards and audio listening post to provide a detailed and interesting account of the Islands history. | €10,000.00 |
| Donegal LDC | Bluestack Way – Storm damage clearance | Remove blocking and dangerous trees along route following Storm Éowyn to reopen the Bluestack Way in its entirety again. | €10,000.00 |
| Forum Connemara | Hymany Way – Trail surface repair and fencing | Surface repair and new fencing to a 300m section of the Hymany Way trail, near the village of Caltralea. | €10,000.00 |
| Forum Connemara | Luibin Mhairois – Upgrade trail infrastructure | Upgrade of trail infrastructure signage, post, fencing, waymarkers, stiles and information board | €10,000.00 |
| Forum Connemara | Western Way – Trail Repair at Finnisglin | Repair several sections of the trail which have become degraded over time due to recent landslides. | €10,000.00 |
| IRD Duhallow | Duhallow Blackwater Way – Trail upgrade | To rectify safety issues identified during the latest Sport Ireland inspection. | €10,000.00 |
| Kilkenny Leader Partnership | Brandon Hill – Boundary Repairs | Replacement of gate, hangers, stile and fencing. | €10,000.00 |
| Kilkenny Leader Partnership | Freshford Loop Trail – Accessibility upgrades | Replacement of timber fencing barrier, gates and stile along river section to improve accessibility. | €10,000.00 |
| Kilkenny Leader Partnership | Gathabawn – Fencing replacement | Replacement of 620m of barbed wire boundary fencing with 620m of stock proof electric fencing. | €10,000.00 |
| Kilkenny Leader Partnership | Kilmacoliver Loop – Surface upgrade works | Resurfacing of a busy 260m section of trail, new stiles and replace damaged railings. | €10,000.00 |
| Kilkenny Leader Partnership | Nore Valley – reroute around a riverbank | Reroute the trail around an unsafe riverbank. Barrier fencing installed for user safety | €10,000.00 |
| Laois Partnership Company | Binnianea Way – Trail upgrades | Trail upgrades including installation of trail furniture, interpretive signage and small-scale trail surface upgrades to increase accessibility of trail. | €10,000.00 |
| Laois Partnership Company | Slieve Bloom Way – Trail upgrades | Trail upgrades including installation of trail furniture, trailhead signage and general small scale trail repair. | €10,000.00 |
| Laois Partnership Company | Offaly Way – Trail upgrades | Trail upgrades including installation of trail furniture, trailhead mapboard units, signage and general small scale trail repair. | €10,000.00 |
| Leitrim Development Company | Miner’s Way & Historical – Trail repairs | Upgrade of signage, drainage materials and trail furniture. | €10,000.00 |
| Leitrim Development Company | Leitrim Way – Trail improvements and minor re-route | Trail upgrades, new signage, drainage materials and trail furniture and complete a reroute around a waterlogged area. | €10,000.00 |
| North East & West Kerry Development Company | Dingle Way – Trail upgrade | Resurface 320m of the trail, addressing drainage issues, and upgrading its overall condition | €10,000.00 |
| North East & West Kerry Development Company | Glanageenty Walks – Trail Upgrade | Resurfacing approximately 1.5 km of the trail in two locations: one along the river and the other on the boreen leading to the walkers’ picnic cabin. | €9,993.65 |
| Roscommon Leader Partnership | Miners Way & Historical – Trail Enhancement works | Improve drainage works and stonework on the trail. | €10,000.00 |
| Roscommon Leader Partnership | Lung Lough Gara Way – Enhancement works | Improve trail surface on a boggy section. | €10,000.00 |
| Roscommon Leader Partnership capacity | Suck Valley Way – Enhancement works | Resurface section of the trail | €10,000.00 |
| Sligo Leader Partnership Ltd | Aughris Head – Path rehabilitation works | Re-stoning sections of path that have eroded, opening drains and refencing damaged sections. | €10,000.00 |
| Sligo Leader Partnership Ltd | Sruth in Aghaidh an Aird -Fencing project | Fencing of an estimated 300M of damaged fencing next to the trail. | €10,000.00 |
| Sligo Leader Partnership Ltd | Lung Lough Gara Way – Drainage and path repair works | Drainage and path repair works. | €10,000.00 |
| Sligo Leader Partnership Ltd | Miner’s Way & Historical Trail – Resurfacing on Old coach road | Trail resurfacing where it has become eroded. | €10,000.00 |
| Sligo Leader Partnership Ltd | Sligo Way – Rhododendron control and path widening | Control of the overgrowth of rhododendrons along the Slieve Deane section of the Sligo way. | €10,000.00 |
| South Kerry Development Partnership | Pound/Knockeenawaddra – Trail head development | Enhancement of existing Trail Head car park including resurfacing and landscaping and installation of picnic bench and planters. | €10,000.00 |
| South Tipperary Development Company Ltd | Cosan Felim Inch Loop – Re-route off the public road | Re-routing of 250m length off a busy public road. | €10,000.00 |
| South Tipperary Development Company Ltd | Knockalough Loop – Clearing of fallen trees and trail repairs | Removal of fallen and falling timber, and repairs to trail surfacing caused by uprooted trees. Repair and reinstate waymarking and signage. | €10,000.00 |
| South Tipperary Development Company Ltd | Lough Derg Way – Clearing of fallen trees and trail repairs | Removal of fallen and falling timber, and repairs to trail surfacing caused by uprooted trees through Seymours woods in Ballydrinan, Ballycommon, Nenagh. Repair and reinstate waymarking, signage, and stile. | €10,000.00 |
| South Tipperary Development Company Ltd | Ormond Way – New viewing platform at Garnakilka, Upperchurch, | Provision of a new viewing platform at the highpoint of the area known as Garnakilka near Upperchurch, Co. Tipperary. | €6,000.00 |
| South Tipperary Development Company Ltd | Tipperary Heritage Way – Trail repairs on the Baylough track | Trail repairs and drainage upgrades at Baylough (Corrie Lake) | €8,000.00 |
| South West Mayo Development Company | Burrishoole Loops 1 – Rocky Mountain Way Viewing Point and Picnic Area | Trail resurfacing of existing path to the viewing point and installation of 2 wheelchair accessible benches on concrete bases, directional and information signage. | €10,000.00 |
| South West Mayo Development Company | Croagh Patrick Heritage Trail – Safety Enhancements at Ayle Caves | Re-route of 50m of path, raising up of a 120m section of the path from a wet area where it currently resides and installation of livestock fencing on both sections. | €10,000.00 |
| Waterford Leader Partnership CLG | Ardmore Cliff Walk – Extended Fencing and Resurfacing | Resurfacing, installation of a cross drain and a 100m extension of existing fencing to ensure walker safety and protection of the Special Area of Conservation | €7,900.00 |
| Waterford Leader Partnership CLG | Byrne’s Bridge Loop – Drainage Works | The removal of old damaged bog bridges and installation of piped cross drains to improve drainage and provide emergency access to the mountain. | €7,661.25 |
| Waterford Leader Partnership CLG | Mt. Melleray Pilgrim Paths – signage upgrade | Update signage at each of the historical monuments on the trails. | €2,982.75 |
| Waterford Leader Partnership CLG | St. Declan’s Way – Resurfacing, Drainage and Replacement of Foot Bridge | Resurfacing in two sections, drainage works and a replacement bridge crossing Keereen stream. | €9,555.57 |
| West Cork Development Partnership | Sheep’s Head Way -Deelish Cascades Trail Improvements | Fallen tree removal from the river, repair of eroded riverbank to preserve the walk, repair of failed rock armour and trail surface. | €10,000.00 |
| €465,120.22 |