Coillte, Ireland’s leading natural resources company and Cavan County Council have commenced the development of an interpretative centre and trail facilities at the Cavan Burren Forest, part of the Cavan / Fermanagh Global Geopark. The development, a cross border initiative, is valued at €900,000 and is financed by the European Union’s INTERREG IVA Programme and administered by the Special EU Programmes Body. P & S Civil Works Ltd has been appointed to carry out the work.
In Picture – Jack Keyes, Cavan County Manager; Gerard Murphy, Coillte; Sean McAnulla, Special EU Programmes Body and Lynda Monteith, ICBAN
The 124 hectares of the Cavan Burren forms part of the Cavan / Fermanagh Global Geopark meaning it is recognised by UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) to have an exceptional geological heritage along with a range of national monuments, ancient habitation sites and fields that survive from prehistoric times. The property will be jointly managed by Coillte and Cavan County Council and today’s announcement comes after six years of working together to deliver local tourism and recreation facilities while protecting the landscape and heritage for future generations.
Gerard Murphy, Managing Director of Coillte Forest said, “the Burren Geopark project is an excellent example of how Coillte’s forests can deliver valuable services – in this case protecting important archaeological features and landscapes. Areas like the Burren are essential in supporting tourism in rural communities and they are of immense value in terms of our heritage. “Increasingly partnerships are essential if we are to deliver these important public goods and in this regard Coillte welcomes the support of Cavan County Council in delivering an exciting and innovative project.” Jack Keyes, Cavan County Manager said, “the development today means Cavan County Council will be in a position to further encourage tourists and the people of Cavan and surrounding counties to visit the site and see for themselves our ancient Irish history. We have worked with Coillte to protect this valuable site and find a infrastructure that respects the landscape while meeting the needs of users, so look forward to bringing it to the public in 2014.” The Cathaoirleach of Cavan County Council, Val Smith welcomed the development which creates 15 construction jobs and will support further job creation in the tourism sector when completed. The new interpretative centre is part of a wider Border Uplands Project, which is a cross-border initiative being led by the Irish Central Border Area Network (ICBAN) and delivered by the Councils of Cavan, Fermanagh, Sligo and Leitrim. Alongside the development of the Interpretive Centre at the Cavan Burren Forest the Border Uplands Project will also be upgrading a number of walking routes in Fermanagh and Sligo. While in Leitrim restoration will be carried out at Farnaught Limekiln and also development of walking trails at a number of sites within the County. Lynda Monteith, Corporate Manager, of ICBAN said, “the development of the Interpretative Centre here in the Cavan Burren along with the other strands of the Border Uplands Project will enhance the tourism potential of the Central Border Region, and help to identify us as a key tourism destination. The Border Uplands Project allows us to utilise our natural assets by working together on a cross border basis and pooling resources to maximise our strengths within the tourism industry.” Coillte and Cavan County Council have agreed a 25 year lease arrangement to support the drawdown of funding and a management agreement has been put in place to ensure the sustainable operation of the site in the future. Work on the project is beginning straight away and is expected to be completed in 9 months. Cavan County Council and Coillte begin work on new tourism facilities at Cavan Burren Forest
Coillte, Ireland’s leading natural resources company and Cavan County Council have commenced the development of an interpretative centre and trail facilities at the Cavan Burren Forest, part of the Cavan / Fermanagh Global Geopark. The development, a cross border initiative, is valued at €900,000 and is financed by the European Union’s INTERREG IVA Programme and administered by the Special EU Programmes Body. P & S Civil Works Ltd has been appointed to carry out the work.
The 124 hectares of the Cavan Burren forms part of the Cavan / Fermanagh Global Geopark meaning it is recognised by UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) to have an exceptional geological heritage along with a range of national monuments, ancient habitation sites and fields that survive from prehistoric times. The property will be jointly managed by Coillte and Cavan County Council and today’s announcement comes after six years of working together to deliver local tourism and recreation facilities while protecting the landscape and heritage for future generations.
Gerard Murphy, Managing Director of Coillte Forest said, “the Burren Geopark project is an excellent example of how Coillte’s forests can deliver valuable services – in this case protecting important archaeological features and landscapes. Areas like the Burren are essential in supporting tourism in rural communities and they are of immense value in terms of our heritage. “Increasingly partnerships are essential if we are to deliver these important public goods and in this regard Coillte welcomes the support of Cavan County Council in delivering an exciting and innovative project.” Jack Keyes, Cavan County Manager said, “the development today means Cavan County Council will be in a position to further encourage tourists and the people of Cavan and surrounding counties to visit the site and see for themselves our ancient Irish history. We have worked with Coillte to protect this valuable site and find a infrastructure that respects the landscape while meeting the needs of users, so look forward to bringing it to the public in 2014.” The Cathaoirleach of Cavan County Council, Val Smith welcomed the development which creates 15 construction jobs and will support further job creation in the tourism sector when completed. The new interpretative centre is part of a wider Border Uplands Project, which is a cross-border initiative being led by the Irish Central Border Area Network (ICBAN) and delivered by the Councils of Cavan, Fermanagh, Sligo and Leitrim. Alongside the development of the Interpretive Centre at the Cavan Burren Forest the Border Uplands Project will also be upgrading a number of walking routes in Fermanagh and Sligo. While in Leitrim restoration will be carried out at Farnaught Limekiln and also development of walking trails at a number of sites within the County. Lynda Monteith, Corporate Manager, of ICBAN said, “the development of the Interpretative Centre here in the Cavan Burren along with the other strands of the Border Uplands Project will enhance the tourism potential of the Central Border Region, and help to identify us as a key tourism destination. The Border Uplands Project allows us to utilise our natural assets by working together on a cross border basis and pooling resources to maximise our strengths within the tourism industry.” Coillte and Cavan County Council have agreed a 25 year lease arrangement to support the drawdown of funding and a management agreement has been put in place to ensure the sustainable operation of the site in the future. Work on the project is beginning straight away and is expected to be completed in 9 months.
