Promoting Sustainable Tourism to West Kildare as a Gateway to the Midlands & protecting our peatland biodiversity

4.21 Tourism

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"The key focus for the Midlands / Failte Ireland region will be the further development and promotion of the local culture, heritage and eco-tourism."

Reason for amendment: Failte Ireland recognises sustainable eco-tourism as a growth market with great potential for Ireland - Kildare has a unique opportunity with rehabilitation of former industrial peatlands in West Kildare and the development of Blueways.

4.21.1 Tourism Attractions in Kildare

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"Kildare currently has a varied tourism portfolio with a position of excellence in heritage, golf, equine, peatlands based eco-tourism"

Reason for amendment: Established attractions such as the IPCC and Lullymore Heritage & Discovery Park which is a key attraction in Irelands Ancient East, won a national award for environmental innovation and attract thousands of international and domestic visitors every year.   

Objectives

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RE 095: "Support the expansion and development of  tourism in Kildare, investigating the feasibilities of key opportunities such as those centred on......peatlands."

Reason for amendment: Existing peatland related attractions and potential for Kildare of eco-tourism to rehabilitated peatlands and a National Peatland Parks to showcase biodiversity, culture and importance as a carbon store.

4.24 Peatland Tourism

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Change National Peatlands Heritage Park to National Peatlands Park. Following second paragraph ending "National Peatlands Park".......Kildare is well positioned due to its close proximity to Dublin as a gateway county for the Peatlands to millions of international visitors annually and approx. 2.5 million residents in surrounding counties.  The designation of an inter county National Peatlands Park, protection and further development of existing facilities and new activities such as the Blueway and Greenways have the potential to become a world class peatland’s / activity based experience. This could greatly assist in changing Ireland’s global eco - tourism position and stimulate further visitor experiences to complement Kildare and Ireland’s current offering. 

Reason for amendment: Reflects potential of proposal and Failte Ireland core goals - "People, Place and Policy – Growing Tourism to 2025" and Peatland Eco-Tourism Research - final report due May 2022.

Objectives

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After RE 0127

Support the West Kildare Smart Rural Alliance and access for peatland communities to the European Network for Rural Development's Smart Village initiative in conjunction with Offaly County Council, Laois County Council, Leader companies in each county and all other relevant stakeholders.

Reason for Amendment: To assist in the delivery of Just Transition and a collabortive approach to realise the potential for peatlands tourism. The inter County approach is important as it reflects shared peatland landscape, related culture and similar socio-economic challenges for the region.  See attached Draft Map of West Kildare Smart Rural Alliance.

4.25 The Barrow Blueway

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After RE0131

Support and facilitate the development of Rathangan as a Blueway destination town based on its natural and built heritage, proximity to the peatlands and Lullymore Heritage & Discovery Park and collaborate with the National Transport Authority and Local Link to provide connectivity.

Reason for Amendment: Rathangan has the potential to benefit greatly from the Blueway given its appeal on the river Slate and Grand Canal, ancient ring fort, Georgian architecture, Quaker connection and more recent Bord na Mona history with Ballydermot Workers Camp (undeveloped at present - owned by Lullymore Heritage & Discovery Park) and the surrounding Killinthomas Woods. A submission for a new  bus service starting in Allenwood and connecting Lullymore, Rathangan, Monasterevin and Kildare town is currently being assessed by the National Transport Authority. This would provide access to Lullymore Heritage & Discovery Park to the Blueway towns of Allenwood, Rathangan and Monasterevin. 

Chapter 9  Rural Economy

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Background 9.1

Kildare is well positioned…..as a gateway Peatlands and the west from Dublin to contribute more to the tourism sector with the development of Greenways, Blueways, Peatways and the potential of a National Peatlands Park on former industrial cutaways providing an alternative eco-tourism and activity based experience.

Amendment : Support the implementation of the objectives identified in the reviewed County Biodiversity Plan and the West Kildare Local Just Transition Plan 2022

Reason :

A new County Kildare Biodiversity Action Plan will be published by 2024

Reason; The County Biodiversity Plan is out of date and a central Kildare resource containing biodiversity aims, objectives and initiatives is essential. This document will illustrate the large reach, responsibility and accountability of the Council and partner organisations for biodiversity, healthy rivers, water quality  and the protection of nature. This new enhanced objective to reach 27% of land for nature  should provide the cornerstone of the Plan with milestones for the achievement of this target. A published document will help inform the public, ensure implementation and form a tool to keep track of progress.  

West Kildare Local Just Transition Plan 2022 is not included.

Bogs and Peatlands 9.8

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Peatlands form a distinctive aspect of Kildare’s landscape……

The cessation of peat extraction by BNM provides tangible opportunities for West Kildare as a gateway county to the Midland Peatlands and the West. The potential of a National Peatlands Park and the development of the Blueway can greatly assist a Just Transition for peatland communities  and lead to economic regeneration and a sustainable local economy.  The creation of a successful community-led tourism destination supported by Kildare Offaly and Laois County Councils, Failte Ireland and other stakeholders following the Blueway and encompassing peatland areas to the west as part of an inter county National Peatlands Park has the potential to offer the visitor a unique experience to get “lost in wilderness” in a relaxed environment away from urban life. The Council recognises that the development of a range of outdoor activities based around our natural amenities of bogs, canals and rivers and the discovery of the area’s natural and built heritage would significantly support the future growth of tourism in Kildare and the midlands. 

RD P1

REASON: More specific with peatlands – “peatlands rehabilitation and sustainable peatland related tourism”

 RD 08

REASON: Include more ….continued roll out of the National Broadband Scheme - and initiatives such as the EU Smart Villages Initiative.

Chapter 13

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Reason for amendment: Recognition of the rehabilitation success of many cutaways which are now significant areas of biodiversity and effective carbon stores as evidenced by numerous sites in West Kildare including Lullymore Heritage & Discovery Park and research carried out in Lullymore's Carbon Flux project since 2016. 

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LR A 13 Engage with the Department of Housing , Local Government and Heritage and other County Councils and relevant stakeholders to advance the delivery of a new National Peatlands Park ( see EC A7)

 13.3 Landscape Character Assessment

Actions

It shall be an action of the Council to:

Change: Revaluate West Kildare Bogs to Class 5 and postpone developments which would impact the landscape until an updated County Landscape Character assessment is completed. This would ensure the Bog of Allen’s potential for rewilding and tourism is not irreversibly damaged by any proposed developments in the intervening period.

Reason: The original LCA was undertaken in 2004 at  time when industrial peat extraction was prevalent and it undervalues the Bog of Allen's historical, cultural, religious and environmental importance. It also fails to reflect the significant rehabilitation and scientific research carried out in many of these peatlands and the growth of both domestic and international tourism to West Kildare over the past 18 years. It is also now widely accepted that Irelands raised bogs have global significance as a carbon store and ecosystem treasures and that their protection and rehabilitation is the first line of defence in mitigating climate change and protecting biodiversity. 

Change: The inclusion of the Lullymore / Allen Bog Group is important as this is the view looking westward from Lullymore which is an established peatland tourism hub in West Kildare.

Reason: The panoramic and uninterrupted views across the Bog of Allen to the west are celebrated and promoted internationally by Lullymore Heritage & Discovery Park (which attracted over 54000 fee paying visitors in 2019) and the IPCC.

Objectives

It is an objective of the Council to:

Reason: Multiple environmental, community and socio-economic benefits for present and future generations.

Pictures attached are view from Peatland Biodiversity Boardwalk and Peatlands Exhibition.

Location Lullymore Heritage & Discovery Park - Photographer Michel Anderton (both pictures).