Irish Local Development Network (ILDN) have warmly welcomed today’s announcement by Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, of the addition of 31 new walking trails to be provided by Local Development Companies through the Department’s Walks Scheme and funding for a number of new Rural Recreation Officers.
The 31 new trails supported by 14 Local Development Companies across 13 counties are to be added to the ‘Walk’s Scheme’ currently supported by ILDN members which aims to open up our countryside to local walkers, hikers and tourists.
Welcoming the announcement, ILDN Chairperson Jim Finn said; “The Walks Scheme and the work of Rural Recreational Officers supported by our member Local Development Companies has had a transformative impact in the areas where they have been rolled out to date. Today’s announcement means there will now be 80 trails under the Scheme, in conjunction and over 2,400 farmers and landowners in total.
“Fourteen ILDN members nationwide will drive the this expansion of trails added today which will involve working with over 400 farmers and include well known trails such as the Dingle Way in County Kerry, St Declan’s Way in County Waterford, the Ballyhoura Way in County Limerick, the South Leinster Way in County Kilkenny and the Slí Gaeltacht Mhuscraí in County Cork, the Cavan Way in County Cavan, the Wicklow Uplands Way in County Wicklow, the Lung/Lough Gara Way in County Roscommon and the Durrow Leafy Loop in County Sligo.
“We also welcome the additional funding provided to our Local Development Companies that deliver the scheme locally for the employment of Rural Recreation Officers who play a vital role in delivering the Walks Scheme and developing the outdoor recreation sector locally. It is very positive that up to 8 new Rural Recreation Officer posts will be added to the 13 already in place. These are designed to further enhance our outdoor amenities and the experience of visitors to Rural Ireland.”
Additional Walks
The 31 new trails to be added are as follows:
| County | LDC | Name | Est. Length of Trail (km) | Est. No. of Land holders | |
| 1 | Cavan | Breffni Integrated | The Cavan Way | 26 | 11 |
| 2 | Cork | West Cork Development Co | Slí Gaeltacht Mhuscraí | 50 | 16 |
| 3 | Galway | Forum Connemara | Luibin Garumna/ Sli Chonamara | 9 | 9 |
| 4 | Galway | Forum Connemara | Luibin Maighros | 5 | 7 |
| 5 | Galway | Forum Connemara | Seanbothar | 5 | 25 |
| 6 | Kerry | NEWKD | Dingle Way | 178 | 80 |
| 7 | Kerry | NEWKD | North Kerry Way | 48 | 10 |
| 8 | Kerry | NEWKD | Glanageenty Loops (3 looped walks) | 19.5 | 3 |
| 9 | Kerry | South Kerry Dev P/ship | Bolus Loop/Skellig Way | 13.6 | 4 |
| 10 | Kerry | South Kerry Dev P/ship | Pound & Knockeenawaddra Loop | 7 | 11 |
| 11 | Kerry | South Kerry Dev P/ship | Caher Marsh | 3.9 | 7 |
| 12 | Kerry | South Kerry Dev P/ship | Emlagh Loop – Reenroe Cliff Walk | 10 | 10 |
| 13 | Kerry | South Kerry Dev P/ship | Keel Uphill Downhill Loop | 13 | 7 |
| 14 | Kilkenny | Kilkenny LDC | South Leinster Way | 104 | 28 |
| 15 | Kilkenny | Kilkenny LDC | Brandon Hill | 19 | 9 |
| 16 | Laois | Laois Partnership Company | Durrow Leafy Loop | 23 | 3 |
| 17 | Leitrim | Leitrim Integrated Dev Co | Arroo Trail | 4.23 | 18 |
| 18 | Limerick | Ballyhoura Development | Ballyhoura Way | 89 | 17 |
| 19 | Limerick | Ballyhoura Development | Slieveragh Loop | 10 | 2 |
| 20 | Limerick | Ballyhoura Development | Molanna Loop Walk | 13 | 15 |
| 21 | Limerick | Ballyhoura Development | Darragh Hills Loop | 10 | 3 |
| 22 | Limerick | Ballyhoura Development | Attychrann Loop | 5 | 2 |
| 23 | Limerick | Ballyhoura Development | Glounreagh Loop walk | 6 | 2 |
| 24 | Limerick | Ballyhoura Development | Paradise Hill | 13 | 2 |
| 25 | Louth | Louth Leader Partnership | Slieve Foy Loop (6 looped walks) | 46 | 32 |
| 26 | Roscommon | Roscommon Integrated Dev Co | Lung/Lough Gara Way | 38.2 | 9 |
| 27 | Sligo | Co. Sligo Leader Partnership | Aughris Head Trail | 3.2 | 4 |
| 28 | Sligo | Co. Sligo Leader Partnership | Lung Lough Gara Walk | 30 | 9 |
| 29 | Waterford | Waterford Leader Partnership | St. Declan’s Way | 115 | 45 |
| 30 | Waterford | Waterford Leader Partnership | Anne Valley Walk | 5 | 13 |
| 31 | Wicklow | County Wicklow Partnership | Wicklow Uplands Way | 8.8 | 4 |
| 930 | 417 |
RRO posts
The funding of additional RRO posts is conditional on the presentation of an appropriate business case from the relevant Local Development Companies that employ these Officers.
The indicative locations, based on a selection of areas with trails already on the Walks Scheme for new RRO’s are as follows:
- North Kerry
- Louth
- Waterford
- The Islands
- West Cork (additional post given large number of existing participants on the scheme)
- Remainder of Cork
- Limerick
- Cavan and surrounding areas
