Laois, Ireland: Outdoor Trails And Blueways Enhanced With Major Oris Funding

Published on August 18, 2025

County Laois is putting a caller spotlight connected nan awesome outdoors pinch much than €360,000 dedicated to 10 different projects nether nan Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS). This finance is transforming trails, blueways, signage systems, and activity hubs crossed nan county. The money comes from nan Department of Rural and Community Development and is being managed by Laois County Council. The activity is portion of Our Rural Future and nan Embracing Ireland’s Outdoors nationalist strategy (2023–2027). The extremity is to support outdoor spaces looking great, turn nan number of group utilizing them, and boost nan section system and sustainable tourism astatine nan aforesaid time.

The investments person been distributed crossed projects that scope from readying multi-use hubs to resurfacing stepping routes. With this funding, nan outdoor connection successful Laois is being expanded, modernised, and made much inclusive.

Breakdown of Funded Projects

Ten projects person been chosen crossed Laois, each representing a chopped facet of agrarian recreation:

• Nore Amenity Area, Castletown (€50,000): Planning activity for a multi-use recreation hub is being carried out. Environmental services and ecological protections are being integrated into nan task to equilibrium nationalist usage pinch earthy preservation.
• Abbeyleix Vitality Hub (€40,000): A caller trailhead successful Fr Breen Park is being developed to nexus aggregate stepping routes, creating a much seamless visitant experience.
• Fossy Looped Walk (€40,000): One kilometre of way is being resurfaced, and an accessible way to a waterfall is being built, ensuring inclusivity for group pinch reduced mobility.
• Kilminchy Lakes, Portlaoise (€40,000): A 700-metre pathway is being added for walkers, joggers, wheelchair users, and families pinch buggies.
• SVT Activity and Wellness Hub, Barrow Blueway (€40,000): Storage facilities, 4 e-bikes, a rider portion for accessible cycling, and a charging position are being provided to beforehand progressive tourism.
• Cullohill Mountain (€39,600): Existing looped walks are being upgraded pinch improved surfacing, infrastructure, and information features.
• Slieve Bloom Way (€39,600): Maintenance and basal repairs are being carried retired connected 1 of Ireland’s astir scenic long-distance stepping routes.
• Laois Walks Committee (€32,400): A dedicated way website is being developed to beforehand stepping routes and connection elaborate visitant guidance.
• Carrigmeal Trail, Phase 4 (€32,310): Surface restoration and fencing are being completed, alongside nan creation of a supporting online platform.
• Erkina Riverbank & Durrow Leafy Loop Trails (€8,415): New accusation boards and signage are being installed, enriching mentation on nan riverbank and woodland stretches.

Together, these efforts correspond a divers portfolio—covering trails successful towns and villages, mountains and woodlands, rivers and lakes, and nan emerging blueway network.

ORIS and National Strategy Context

The Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) has been designed to fortify Ireland’s estimation arsenic a destination for nature-based tourism while ensuring that communities tin bask upgraded recreational facilities. Funding has been system crossed 4 categories:

• Project Development: Up to €50,000
• Small-Scale Maintenance and Promotion: Up to €40,000
• Medium-Scale Infrastructure: Up to €200,000
• Large-Scale Strategic Projects: Up to €500,000

In Laois, astir awards autumn into nan small-scale and medium-scale categories. This gradual attack has been designed to guarantee that some insignificant but meaningful upgrades (such arsenic signage and resurfacing) and much important projects (such arsenic way hubs and blueway infrastructure) tin beryllium supported.

The Embracing Ireland’s Outdoors strategy, launched successful 2022, has been intended to guideline these investments. Its objectives person included accessibility for each users, integration of cosmopolitan design, semipermanent attraction planning, and respect for ecological environments. Projects approved nether ORIS person been required to show alignment pinch this nationalist framework.

Tourism and Local Community Benefits

The effect of these investments is being felt connected 2 levels: tourism and section value of life. For visitors, enhanced trails and blueways are being designed to supply amended wayfinding, safer surfaces, and much inclusive access. For communities, upgraded paths and hubs are being positioned arsenic safe spaces for exercise, recreation, and gathering.

The Slieve Bloom Mountains, agelong recognised arsenic a stepping and hiking destination, are being supported done attraction and signage. Blueway infrastructure is being expanded to tie cycling enthusiasts. Village-based trails for illustration Fossy and Kilminchy are being surfaced to promote regular usage by residents while offering visitors easy entree to scenic walks.

Digital devices are besides being prioritised, pinch nan Laois Walks Committee’s way website group to supply online accusation and mapping. Such devices are being recognised arsenic captious for some home visitors and world visitors readying stepping and cycling itineraries.

Wider Rural Development Vision

The projects successful Laois are forming portion of a nationwide roll-out. In 2025, complete €8.7 cardinal was allocated to 221 projects crossed Ireland nether ORIS, supporting region councils, organization groups, and partnerships. Through this nationalist programme, agrarian economies are being strengthened by outdoor tourism, while biology stewardship and practice appreciation are being embedded successful recreational planning.

The attack has been successful keeping pinch Ireland’s Our Rural Future vision, which has emphasised balanced location improvement and revitalisation of agrarian towns. Outdoor recreation is being recognised arsenic a driver of wellbeing, biology education, and visitant growth.

A Renewed Invitation to Explore Laois

With backing now reaching nan ft of each hill, on each riverbank, done each village, and beside each shimmering municipality lake, Laois is blossoming into a must-see hub for walkers, cyclists, and ecotourists. Upgraded paths, clear caller signs, real-time integer maps, and eco-friendly accommodation are each coming into place. Whether 1 is aft a speedy stroll aliases a multi-day adventure, nan region is fresh to invited all, each measurement of nan way.

Visitors to Ireland are discovering Laois anew—and they are uncovering a region wherever history, scenic views, and a welcoming organization converge. With thief from nan ORIS finance scheme, a reimagined outdoor acquisition is now connected offer, giving some locals and travellers alike amended ways to research and admit nan countryside.

[Image Source: Discover Ireland Official Website]