Lakelands Geopark included in Shared Island funding announcement

Cuilcagh Lakelands UNESCO Global Geopark is to receive €6 million from the Shared Island fund to support tourism through conservation with a focus on delivering a number of projects identified in the Cuilcagh Masterplan.

In February, Taoiseach Micheál Martin announced a Shared Destination project which included the €6m investment into Cuilcagh Lakelands Geopark which will see interpretation and trail developments across Fermanagh and Cavan which will expand and connect the trail network throughout the cross-border region further elevating the area as a leading regenerative tourism destination.

Councillor Anthony Feely, Chair of the Geopark Committee, commented on the announcement of the €6 million investment by the Irish Government: “I welcome the funding announcement which demonstrates a commitment to Cuilcagh Lakelands UNESCO Global Geopark to deliver on the Cuilcagh Masterplan, which will further enhance the area’s natural beauty and accessibility. This investment marks a significant step forward in protecting and promoting the Geopark, a key regional asset that holds both environmental and cultural value. We look forward to the positive impact this investment will have on our rural communities and the wider region for generations to come.”

The funding will enable the delivery on key interventions identified in the Cuilcagh Masterplan including improvements to Cuilcagh Boardwalk Trail, interpretative signage, wayfinding infrastructure, and visitor amenities including a new community-based interpretative centre in Glangevlin, all strengthening the visitor offer across Fermanagh and Cavan.

Councillor John Paul Feeley, Vice Chair of the Geopark Committee, remarked: "I am thrilled to see this significant investment in the development of our recreation network which benefits our local communities as well as elevating our visitor offering. This funding will strengthen the ties between Fermanagh and Cavan and enhance the Geopark’s reputation as a regenerative tourism destination. It’s a proud moment for all of us who have worked so hard to showcase the beauty and importance of this cross-border landscape.”

With ongoing work on proposed developments at Lough Navar as well as the developments at Shannon Pot Discovery Centre and Cavan Burren Park, this investment emphasises the connectivity of this shared landscape and the positive impact of collaborative working between Fermanagh and Omagh District Council and Cavan County Council to realise the full potential of the area.

Gráinne O’Connor, manager of Cuilcagh Lakelands Geopark, welcomed the announcement noting: 'In 2023 we developed the Cuilcagh Masterplan, a cross-border feasibility study for the area, through Local Authority Development Shared Island Funding. I am delighted this funding announcement will now progress the proposals outlined in this plan which was developed in consultation with local communities. This investment will bring real and lasting benefits to our local communities and the environment across Fermanagh and Cavan’.

In April, the Geopark was invited to take part in the Shared Island Forum in Dublin Castle as part of the Irish Government’s Shared Island Initiative to engage with all communities and political traditions on a shared future on the island, underpinned by the Good Friday Agreement.

With an opening address from the Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, the event hosted two panel discussions focusing on Arts and a reconciled future and Shared Island Investment.

The panel on Shared Island Investment, which Geopark Manager Gráinne O Connor participated in, also included representation from National Parks and Wildlife Service, Queen’s University Belfast, Intertrade Ireland and Cork City Council (Cork UNESCO Learning City) with Lynette Fay acting as Moderator.

For more information on the Cuilcagh Lakelands UNESCO Global Geopark, visit www.cuilcaghlakelands.org.