Grants of €1.1m announced for county’s tourism projects

A TOTAL of 16 tourism-related projects in Co Cork are to benefit from €1.1 million in funding from Fáilte Ireland and Cork County Council.

The grants, which were announced yesterday, include €816,073 to develop walking routes, €516,365 for elements of a national coastal walk, and €59,759 to develop Skibbereen as a “cycling hub”.

A €109,000 sum has been allocated for environmental and visitor management works, plus €138,347 for angling facilities. There was also €50,000 set aside for improvement and management works at Inchydoney’s blue flag beach.

The highest single grant, of just over €305,000, will go towards improving the Bantry coastal walk. Other walkway projects to be grant-aided in west Cork, are at Reenascreena, Sheep’s Head and Vaughan’s Pass.

All the grants in north Cork were for loop walks at Mullaghareirk, Mount Hillary, Mallow, Ballyhoura and along the Blackwater Valley.

Kinsale Coastal Walkway Project was allocated €113,350, while €71,000 is to be provided for improving angling at Inniscarra Lake and Lough Adarra, near Midleton, and €67,347 is earmarked for putting up special fishing information signs around south Cork.

The projects are 75% funded by Fáilte Ireland South-West, with a 25% contribution from Cork County Council.