2020 - 2021
IRD DUHALLOW | PROGRESS REPORT
Tourism Duhallow as a region has a unique range of outdoor pursuits and adventure activities including picturesque walks and idyllic angling locations, as well as a vibrant heritage that attracts people to the region. IRD Duhallow has undertaken a number of projects in the past year to support the region’s tourism.
project is to help preserve the history of the Old Cork to Kerry Butter Road while turning it into a recreational amenity for the region. One of the main butter roads ran in an almost straight line of about 70 miles long, from Castleisland, Kerry to the Butter Exchange in Cork, where the butter was auctioned off to the highest bidder. The road was one of the first planned and properly built roads in the country as opposed to roads that simply developed from paths and tracks. The farmers travelled by donkey and cart, bringing their goods to market. Duhallow Trail App
Duhallow as a region has a shortage of available accommodation. Through the support of LEADER Katrin and Walter Alhert have recently signed a contract to develop Eco Pod Accommodation on Mount Hillary.
The Duhallow Angling Centre of Excellence Whilst international visitors to Duhallow’s trout teemed rivers were a rarity this year due to COVID restrictions. The highly skilled Gillies in the region have noted an increase in Domestic Tourism in recent weeks due to the easing of restrictions. The Duhallow Angling Centre of Excellence was founded through the support of LEADER in 2012, since then it has undertaken numerous initiatives to ensure the quality and standard of Duhallow as an Angling destination for tourists. Angling tourism has a major economic impact on the local economy with accommodation providers, restaurants, supermarkets, tackle dealers and local bars all Howard Davies from England enjoying benefitting as well as creating and trout fishing on Duhallow’s well stocked maintaining local employment levels rivers
A group enjoying the Claragh Loop Walk in Millstreet.
With the assistance of LEADER 2014-2020 funding IRD Duhallow is currently developing an app which will advertise, promote and encourage users to access recreational trails in the region. The app will have information for each of the trails available in Duhallow including: route descriptions, start/finish points, maps, directions for driving to trailhead locations, local information and history of the area, descriptions of native flora and fauna, closest amenities, local contact and safety information, equipment needed where applicable etc. The app will be designed to be interactive to help visitors navigate, capture and share their experiences with others on social media platforms. A Trails Monitoring App license has also been purchased to allow personnel to monitor all walks i.e. detection and recovery of invasive species, trail damage, damaged or missing signs, litter and offline mapping. The system is currently being used by Rural Recreation Officers around the country and is in line with Sports Ireland monitoring requirements
The Outdoor Infrastructure Scheme
Newmarket Pitch & Putt Newmarket Pitch and Putt’s unique 18-hole course was designed by Michael O’Leary of Sol Golf Ballydesmond and was funded by the LEADER programme.
Ballyhass Lakes is one of Ireland’s premier outdoor activity centres. The entrance and roadway into the centre were recently upgraded with the support of LEADER funding. Allan Dugdale (Competition Secretary), Margaret O’Brien, and Connie Buckley (Club Chairman) after winning a weekly club competition
The Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) contributes to the strategic objective of strengthened rural economies and communities as set out in the Project Ireland 2040 strategy. It specifically supports the growing outdoor activity tourism sector as prioritised in “Our Rural Future”, Ireland’s Rural Development Policy 2021-2025. The initial works for the upgrading of the Old Butter Road was completed under ORIS 2017 and 2019. IRD Duhallow was successful in securing ORIS funding in 2020 for a section of the Old Butter The region’s unique Sliabh Road in Rathmore and for a section of the Luachra Culture and Heritage is Butter Road in Bolomore, Rathcoole. Both of of paramount importance. The these sections were just under a mile long. An Maurice O’Keeffe festival is one application is being submitted for ORIS 2021 of the musical highlights in the Duhallow calendar. This year for the upgrade of the Millstreet Ballydaly the festival celebrated its 20th section. The overall objective of this bigger anniversary with an online
complied with the standards set by COVID safety. This included the use of a fob system that served to update the previous attendance tracking, as well as other safety measures. During lockdowns, extensive work was done to ensure the course was kept up to an incredible standard and always ready to return to business. The club works closely with the Pitch and Putt Union of Ireland to ensure the best possible experience for individuals or teams.
festival.
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It’s a picturesque course that draws players from all over Munster. Upon the lifting of restrictions, the course returned with new measures that
Sheila O’Connor & Celine Drew enjoying a round of Pitch and Putt in the sun in Newmarket.
