Popular Mayo attraction Belleek Woods receives crucial funding

Popular Mayo attraction Belleek Woods in Ballina is to receive funding from the Government.

Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary (Fianna Fáil) has announced €4 million investment at Coillte recreational sites.

The funding forms part of the government’s strategic partnership with Coillte.

In addition to supporting the development of new infrastructure projects and the maintenance of existing trails on Coillte lands with €2.6million, this year an additional €1.4m is being provided towards the ongoing cost of repairing storm damaged trails.

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 Announcing the funding, Minister Calleary said: “My department’s strategic partnership with Coillte is a hugely important one for the outdoor recreation sector in Ireland.

It is essential to ensuring that Coillte sites are in a position to facilitate millions of visitors each year with high quality trails and facilities.

Through our current partnership with Coillte, we are providing up to €15 million over 5 years to maintain and develop Coillte’s trail network and recreation amenities around the country.

This funding is also supporting Coillte’s engagement with local communities and recreation groups right across the country.

Examples of some of the new recreation amenities being funded today include:

• Glantenassig, Co Kerry: Final Phase of Car Park and entrance road Improvement Works. €120,000
• Courtown, Co Wexford: Repair and Renew of Spike bridge. €35,000
• Belleek, Co Mayo: Belleek Woods Pond improvement works projects. €50,000
• Ravensdale, Co Louth: Replacement of foot bridge. €70,000.
• Woodstock, Co Kilkenny: Access Road Repair and redress. €55,000.

The Minister continued: “This year has presented an additional challenge to making these facilities available to the public in the aftermath of storm Eowyn.

I know Coillte staff have been working tirelessly over the last few months to repair and reopen their recreational forests and to allow communities back in to enjoy these woods."

The Minister stated there were over 100 sites closed as a result of storm Eowyn and he was pleased to note that work has completed to allow 83 of these sites reopen.

The remaining sites are expected to reopen before the end of the year.

In recognition of the significant level of resources needed to repair the storm damage, I am delighted to be able to provide, on a once off basis, additional funding of €1.4m towards repair works on up to 200 sites that suffered storm damage in 2025.”

Imelda Hurley, Coillte CEO said: “We are delighted to welcome this €4 million investment from the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht (DRCDG), which will significantly enhance forest trails and outdoor recreation areas across the country.

This support comes at a critical time, following the unprecedented Storm Éowyn, that caused widespread damage across our forest estate.

Our teams have been working tirelessly to restore access, often in extremely challenging conditions.

Their phenomenal efforts have ensured that the majority of our recreational forests have now reopened, enabling communities and visitors to once again enjoy the natural beauty of our forests.

Details of previous funding are provided in the annual reports produced by Coillte which are available on the Department’s website here.

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