County Kildare Walking Routes Project - Kildare.ie

County Kildare Walking Routes Project
5. The development committee will agree the ongoing maintenance programme with the
stakeholders responsible for each section of the route and co-ordinate an annual
promotional programme.
6. The possibility of re-opening a youth hostel in Robertstown or Lullymore should be
considered in consultation with An Oige, the Irish Youth Hostel Association.
If the development plan for this route meets with approval and involvement by local
stakeholders, the lessons learned should be applied to the development of a peatland
walking route from the Bord na Móna facility at Kilberry to the proposed NHA on
Derryvullagh Island which has the combined attraction of a conservationist and pilgrim
route.
The area of the Lullymore route is well promoted at present by the Irish Peatland
Conservation Council, Waterways Ireland and Lullymore Heritage Park. The development
of the route will increase visitor numbers to the area and benefit local service providers. A
co-ordinated promotional strategy with the walking route at its core will provide better
value for money from the individual promotional budgets of each of the stakeholders.
Investment in signage and trail furniture is required before the walking route can be
promoted.
Mullaghreelan (W13): This proposed route scored third receiving 191 points out of a
potential 250 (76%). It is a proposed route that combines an existing forest route with
nearby Kilkea Castle Hotel. Mullaghreelan Forest is a well established local picnic and
walking amenity. The Hotel and Golf Course attracts a national and international visitor
base. The proposed development of the walking route combines these factors to provide a
high class amenity of international importance. The Development Plan should include:
1. Discussions between Kildare County Council, the owners and managers of the Kilkea
House Hotel and Golf Club and Coillte to decide how to jointly develop and promote
the existing walking route in Kilkea demesne.
2. Improvements to signage, the supply of information boards, additional picnic tables
and integration of services such as food, toilets, accommodation and entertainment.
3. Coillte should be encouraged to extend the overgrown path to the northwest to meet
with the rear entrance to Kilkea Castle and appoint a local person to maintain the
route, perhaps through LEADER’s RSS scheme.
4. Responsibility for heritage sites on the estate needs to be addressed and additional
excavations may be appropriate in the church yard.
5. The establishment of a small exhibition area/ interpretative centre that exhibits local
heritage artefacts, demonstrates their significance and explains the importance of the
site in Irish history, should be considered. The site contains all the elements of a
heritage park similar to Ferrycarrig in Wexford.
6. An annual medieval pageant (jousting competition) and country fair that would involve
retired estate workers and professional actors should be considered as part of the
promotional package.
An opportunity exists for the Kilkea Castle Hotel and Golf Club to increase visitor numbers
and bed nights by promoting walking as an additional outdoor pursuit for its guests,
particularly for the off-season and midweek breaks. This opportunity requires the walking
route to be upgraded and promoted jointly with Kildare County Council and Coillte.
CSA Project 3419 17