Over €1m in funding grants for three Offaly tourism initiatives

Three tourism projects in Offaly are set to benefit from over €1 million in funding as part of the EU Just Transition fund programme.

The successful Offaly projects include Bare Meadows Projects Ltd, who were awarded a total of €712,488 for the development of a glamping facility adjacent to the Lough Boora Discovery Park.

The funding will be used for the delivery of a multifunctional activity building with an outdoor viewing deck and telescope, barrel saunas, peat baths, hot tubs, six en-suite cabins and an educational playground. Funding towards Quantity Surveyor and Engineer professional fees has also been included in the allocation.

Tullamore Tidy towns is to receive €1,990 to implement new signage, while Up Close and Personal Promotions, which is headed up by local businessman, Aidan Shortall, has been awarded €300,000 towards the renovation of a 19th-century Old Coach House on Church Street, Tullamore, into modern, sustainable short-term self-catering accommodation.

The Old Coach House project will see the restoration and conservation of one of the town's oldest buildings into a unique and modern short-term letting experience. Speaking about the project, Aidan Shortall said the aim is to create “immersive, sustainable and memorable experiences for both international and domestic visitors,” while respecting the heritage of the Old Coach House.

He added that the project will “generate new opportunities for employment both directly and indirectly” and said sustainability and quality will be “at the heart of every decision made” on the restoration project.

The restoration of the historic building will include three one-bedroom pods to accommodate three persons per pod. Guests will have access to the ground floor amenities of the restored Coach House and its garden, and there are also plans to develop a kitchen garden, a secure bike shed and guest information services.

Local TD Tony McCormack said the new accommodation attraction at the Old Coach House will be "a great addition to boost the town's appeal" to visitors.

The funding for the three Offaly projects has also been warmly welcomed by local TD John Clendennen who said the the money will be "well spent" to support tourism businesses and encourage "more footfall" into Offaly.

Revealing that another round of funding is to be announced next month, Deputy Clendennen said rural tourism businesses in Offaly need “continued support” in order to incentivise visitors into the county “to the benefit of our entire local economy.”

The funding for Offaly has been allocated under Fáilte Ireland’s Investment Grant-Aid Scheme for Private and Community SMEs, and is part of a wider package of €3.6 million awarded to 24 new tourism projects across the wider Midlands region.