The sod was turned this morning on the new 100km Slieve Bloom Mountain Bike Trail, an ambitous tourism project which has received funding of just under €1.2 million to date.
Minister for Equality and Justice, Charlie Flanagan performed the official sod turning on site in the Slieve Bloom mountains this morning.
This is the first phase of a project which, when completed, will comprise of just over 100km of trails. Phase 1 will involve the construction of 35kms of off-road, cross-country cycling trails on Coillte-owned forest lands, with approximately half in Co. Laois at Baunreagh and half in Co. Offaly at Kinnity.
Funding of €1m for the first phase, which was in addition to €195,500 for rural trails and cycle-ways projects under Measure 2 of the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme in County Laois, was announced by the Minister in July 2017.
Speaking at the event Minister Flanagan said: “This is a really special occasion for me, because I know that when this trail is constructed it is going to bring to literally thousands of people the sort of pleasure and thrill I got, when, as a boy, I cycled in these very mountains”.
The Minister went on to speak about his current love for walking in the area before drawing
“The trail we are turning the sod on, represents the biggest investment in Tourism, in both Laois and Offaly in recent years. Outdoor recreational and adventure tourism is a key growth sector worldwide and it has been identified as a priority for Irish tourism.
“The Irish tourist industry is of course booming – it had record year in 2017 with overseas visitors up by 3.7% to the end of November. And we are looking forward to this trail playing its part in that growth in the years to come,” he said.
The Minister acknowledged those he said had been centrally involved in the project’s development: Daithi de Forge from Coillte, Mr John Mulholland, the Chief Executive of Laois County Council and Ms Anna Marie Delaney, the Chief Executive Offaly County Councils and a former Director of Service in Laois County Council, as well as the National Parks & Wildlife Service, Slieve Bloom Development Ltd, Wolftrap Cycling Club, Laois and Offaly LEADER companies Inland Fisheries Ireland and Shannon Development.
Supportive
He also paid tribute to local business owners. “They have been very supportive of the project and some have already invested in their businesses with the trails system in mind,” he said
Finally, Mr Flanagan reminded local people that while the intention was for the trail to bring many more visitors to the centre of the country, it could also bring huge benefits to them.
“We all, locals and visitors, need to keep healthy and to that end, rural recreation projects are hugely important. The development of an outdoor infrastructure such as this Slieve Bloom Cycle Trail will encourage us all to keep fit and live a healthy active lifestyle – and it fits too with the Healthy Ireland Campaign which supports us to make healthier choices in both areas of our lives… in our physical activity, as well as at our meal times,” he said.
SEE ALSO – €1 million in funding has been announced for the Slieve Bloom Mountain Bike Trail project
