Waterford Leader Partnership Clg. will administer the 2024/2025 Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) funded by the Department of Rural & Community Development. ORIS is funded under Project Ireland 2040 and is a key initiative of Our Rural Future – Ireland’s Rural Development Policy 2021-2025 and Embracing Ireland’s Outdoors, the National Outdoor Recreation Strategy 2023 – 2027.
In line with Embracing Ireland’s Outdoors, outdoor recreation is defined as activities that take place in the natural environment, such as walking, canoeing, mountain biking, orienteering and wild swimming. It does not include activities that take place outdoors on confined courses or pitches (such as golf, football, and showjumping) or motorised activities (such as quads/scramblers). Therefore, such activities are not eligible for funding under ORIS.
The focus of ORIS is to support outdoor recreational infrastructure in countryside areas across Ireland that not only provides an outlet for the communities in which they are situated but also delivers added value from a tourism perspective.
2024/2025 ORIS Scheme Measure 1
| Measure | Description | Grant Amount |
| Measure 1 | Small Scale Repair/Development/Promotion and Marketing |
Up to €40,000
|
Match Funding Requirement: Trail Management Organisations/Community Groups must provide 10% of their overall project costs as match funding.
Waterford Leader Partnership CLG now seeks expressions of interest from Trail Management Organisations (TMOs)/community groups for funding of suitable projects under this initiative. Expression of interest forms can be downloaded ORIS EOI Form WLP 2024 or obtained by e-mailing niamh.mcguinness@wlp.ie.
All those submitting an expression of interest form should, in the first instance make themselves aware of the scheme outlines and guidelines available ORIS 2024 Outline WLP, particularly regarding their proposal’s eligibility.
Completed expression of interest forms must be emailed to niamh.mcguinness@wlp.ie before 5.00pm Friday 22nd November 2024. Expressions of interest received after this date and time will not be considered for the 2024/2025 scheme. All applications will be subject to a selection process using National Criteria.
Waterford Leader Partnership CLG can submit a maximum of three Measure 1 projects, in accordance with ORIS guidelines. Expressions of interest that are selected by Waterford Leader Partnership will be further developed with groups into detailed project proposals for consideration under ORIS 2024/2025. Please note that the Measure 1 projects submitted by Waterford Leader Partnership are independent from those submitted by Waterford City and County Council under the same scheme.
RÉAMHFHÓGRA MAIDIR LE SPRIOCGHAIRM I GCOMHAIR CISTIÚ
Waterford LEADER Partnership has funded essential repairs to the popular St. Declan’s Way trail, via the Department of Rural and Community Development Walks Scheme.
A section of St. Declan’s Way in Cush of Grange, Co. Waterford had been experiencing significant drainage issues, causing the trail to be wet, muddy and unpleasant for walkers.
To solve this, Waterford LEADER Partnership has funded the drainage and repair works on this trail via the Walks Scheme. Sections of the trail have been resurfaced, side drains have been cleared and a piped cross drain has been added to prevent further drainage issues on this section of the trail.
Waterford LEADER Partnership secured €10,000 funding for St. Declan’s Way in 2023 via the Department of Rural and Community Development Walks Scheme Development Fund. This contributed to the repairs required on the trail.
Over 50 landowners are currently supported by Waterford LEADER Partnership via the Walks Scheme, to maintain the sections of trails which pass through their land.
The Walks Scheme contributes to the maintenance and development of walking and hiking trails across Co. Waterford, benefiting rural communities and economies.
For example, St. Declan’s Way attracts thousands of walkers each year and was recently described by the Irish Times as the “Irish Camino”.
Click here to read more about the St. Declan’s Way feature in the Irish Times.
Waterford LEADER Partnership will be supporting 12 more trails across Co. Waterford, in addition to St. Declan’s Way and the Anne Valley Walk in Dunhill, as the following trails will be joining the Walks Scheme this year:
St. Declan’s Way, Ireland’s longest Pilgrim Path at 115km, has caught national attention as the Irish Times describe the trail as “The Irish Camino”. The continued maintenance of this nationally significant trail is supported by Waterford LEADER Partnership.
The Irish Times describe St. Declan’s Way as a trail that could “rival the Spanish Camino with a walking experience based around slow-tourism and mindfulness”.
St. Declan’s Way provides opportunities to appreciate the varied landscapes of Co. Waterford, entering the county over the Knockmealdown Mountains, crossing lush countryside and ending in the seaside village of Ardmore.
52 landowners are supported by Waterford LEADER Partnership, via the Department of Rural and Community Development Walks Scheme, to maintain the sections of this iconic trail which pass through their land.
Waterford LEADER Partnership also contributed to the development of the St. Declan’s Way 5-year Strategic Plan via the LEADER Programme. The St. Declan’s Way Strategic Plan can be viewed here: St-Declans-Way-Strategic-Plan-_-2024-to-2028.pdf
Read more about the Irish Times exploration of St. Declan’s Way: https://t.co/8DhtuQ1G1n
Photo Credit: The Irish Times, 2024.
gov – Minister Humphreys announces €20million Community Centre Investment Fund (www.gov.ie)
Waterford Leader Partnership CLG was delighted with the recent announment from the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, on the upgrading of 43 walking and hiking trails across rural Ireland under the Walks Scheme, including 2 trails in Co. Waterford.
In Co. Waterford, the Anne Valley Walk has been awarded €10,000 for the resurfacing of a section of the trail. This work will ensure that the Anne Valley remains a multi-access trail, suitable for buggies, wheelchairs and all levels of walkers.
St. Declan’s Way has also been awarded €10,000 for the re-route of a section of the trail in Cappoquin. This re-route will take walkers off of a public road. Walkers will instead follow along the scenic Blackwater river.
This funding will further strengthen Co. Waterford’s outdoor recreation offering. The Walks Scheme Development Fund will enhance the trails, which are a fantastic amenity for local communities. The projects are also supporting local economies in rural Waterford through the use of local contractors and attracting tourism to small towns and villages across Waterford.
The Successful Launch of the St. Declan’s Way 5-Year Strategic Plan
Minister Mary Butler TD launched the St. Declan’s Way Strategic Plan 2024-2028 at a ceremony held in the Hall of the Vicar’s Choral in the scenic Rock of Cashel on Friday April 5th, 2024.
The event was very well-attended with over 65 people present at the launch which took place at the St. Declan’s Way trailhead, the Rock of Cashel. Many of the attendees were representatives of key stakeholders such as Waterford City and County Council, Tipperary County Council, Waterford Leader Partnership Clg., South Tipperary Development Co., Munster Vales, Fáilte Ireland, Visit Waterford, Tipperary Tourism, Knockmealdown Active, the Roman Catholic Church, the Church of Ireland, the Cistercian Order, local historians and a number of the 45 Walks Scheme participants along St. Declan’s Way in County Waterford.
Many key political representatives were also in attendance, including Minister Butler, Cathaoirleach of Tipperary County Council Gerard Darcy, Deputy TDs Marc O’Cathasaigh and Mattie McGrath, Senator Gareth Ahearne and elected councillors from both Waterford and Tipperary.
The strategic plan, partly financed by Waterford Leader Partnership and collaboratively authored by the St. Declan’s Way Steering Committee and Tourism Development International, sets out steps to raise the profile of this historic pilgrim route to greater national and international prominence.
The plan outlines a detailed roadmap for the trail’s development, including enhancing trail infrastructure, improving off-road paths, hiring a development manager and launching targeted marketing campaigns aimed at capturing the growing interest in walking tourism. With an estimated investment of €2.4 million, the plan envisions attracting over 20,000 walkers annually by 2029, aiming to generate a significant economic impact in rural Ireland, estimated at €35.4 million.
Words of support and congratulations for the St. Declan’s Way landowners, Steering Committee and other key stakeholders were issued by all speakers at the event. Speakers included Cllr Gerard Darcy, David McNulty of Tourism Development International, St. Declan’s Way Committee Chairperson Gráinne Moynihan, and Minister Butler.
The Minister praised the excellent work of the Committee and all the stakeholders involved for being the perfect example of “what can be achieved when people start working together for the good of the community”.
#Ourruralfuture #Leader #rurallife #trails
