Official launch of Lough Boora Discovery Park

Bord na Móna’s new €1.5 million euro development, which sees a new visitor centre and facilities in Lough Boora Discovery Park, Co. Offaly, was officially opened this morning by Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Alex White T.D.

Speaking today at the official opening, Mr. John Horgan, Chairman, Bord na Móna, said: “The new visitor facilities will provide an improved experience for all visitors, schools and communities, helping everyone to enjoy the full extent of Lough Boora Discovery Park. This significant development that we are here to launch today will support the future economic growth of not only West Offaly but the entire County and will prove to be a unique and significant attraction for local, national and international visitors.”

The development of Lough Boora started in 1994 when Bord na Móna staff and representatives of the local community formed the Lough Boora Group. They completed a feasibility study which formed a blueprint for the subsequent development of the greater Lough Boora area. Lough Boora Discovery Park now extends to over 2000 hectares and has a network of off-road walking and cycle routes within a perimeter of approximately 20 kilometres. Various internal looped walkways and routes offer a wonderful vista of scenic beauty, heritage and an impressive collection of sculptures. Through a creative combination of nature and the human hand, and under the direction of Bord na Móna, this is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts and families alike.

He continued: “Throughout the planning and building process, Bord na Móna sought to create a sense of arrival and identity for Lough Boora Discovery Park, to provide improved visitor facilities and services and to upgrade interpretation and signage throughout the whole site. A key objective of this investment was to provide a sustainable development that is in keeping with the landscape. With this in mind, the building itself has a number of environmentally friendly features, including use of sustainable materials in construction, a green roof, solar energy, and an ecological waste water treatment system, amongst other things.”

Mr. Horgan concluded: “Projects such as this cannot come to fruition without the support of the various stakeholders that are here today. For our part, we are delighted with the support, time and commitment received from Fáilte Ireland and Offaly County Council. I would also like to thank all the other organizations, groups and individuals that have made a major contribution to the development of Lough Boora over many years, whose hard work and dedication has made such a wonderful facility as this a reality.”

Lough Boora announced as Finalist in 2014 Web Awards

The Lough Boora Discovery Park website has been announced as a Finalist in the Best Practice category for this year’s Web Awards, which take place at Ballsbridge Hotel in Dublin on Wednesday 22 October 2014.

The new Lough Boora Discovery Park website was launched in early August 2014 as part of a Bord na Móna initiative to increase awareness of the park as a free amenity in the heart of Ireland that offers something for everyone.

The website highlights the activities that are available for all ages and abilities, with information about the park’s nature and biodiversity, history and the story of Bord na Móna. The new website testing.loughboora.com encourages users to visit Lough Boora Discovery Park, discover and explore all this amenity has to offer.

The 2014 Web Awards take place at Ballsbridge Hotel in Dublin on Wednesday 22 October 2014.

For more information, visit testing.loughboora.com and connect with us on Twitter @loughbooraparkFacebook and YouTube.

Offaly Walking Festival

As part of the Offaly Walking Festival 2014, a dusk to dark walk will take place at Lough Boora Discovery Park on Friday 10 October 2014 from 6.30pm.

Walkers are invited to join us for an amazing nature experience full of sights and sounds as night falls. Bring a torch and your walking shoes and meet at the new Visitor Centre car park to explore the soft bog land underfoot during this hour long moderate walk.

For further information, download the Offaly Walking Festival 2014 [PDF] contact the Kilcormac Development Association on 057 9135445 or email kdaoffice@eircom.net.

Walking at Lough Boora Discovery Park

Lough Boora Discovery Park offers trails ranging from a short stroll to longer treks to take you through our diverse amenities. All routes start and end at the new Visitor Centre, with a level walking landscape that can be enjoyed by all age groups.

The park’s walks are rated as easy, so mildly challenged walkers can estimate distances using the scales listed. This is advisable so as to ensure walkers can pace themselves comfortably.

The park is in a continuous state of flux depending on the season. Birds depart or arrive, breed and rear their young. Plants flower and fungi appear and disappear, while the resident animals go about their lives. The varying sights, sounds and smells ensure a walk through Lough Boora always has something new, exciting and interesting to offer.

Discover Lough Boora’s walking trails in your own time, year round.

Sculpture Park tribute for artist Jean Conroy

A Sculpture Park tribute for artist Jean Conroy was held by the Art Hedge School at Lough Boora Discovery Park on Sunday 28 September 2014.

The event was organised by Sinead O’Reilly, Arts Officer with Offaly County Council and was hosted by fellow Sculptor, Tom Mescall, who worked with Jean over the years prior to her passing.

Approximately 30 adults and children joined in crafted temporary art pieces made from the natural materials found around The Boora Pyramid sculpture. This was the fourth year the Art Hedge School gathered at Lough Boora.

An image of one of the works of art made from natural materials at Lough Boora Discovery Park as part of a tribute to Jean Conroy on Sunday 28 September 2014.
An image of one of the works of art made from natural materials at Lough Boora Discovery Park as part of a tribute to Jean Conroy on Sunday 28 September 2014.
An image of one of the works of art made from natural materials at Lough Boora Discovery Park as part of a tribute to Jean Conroy on Sunday 28 September 2014.

Additional photos from the tribute can be found on the Lough Boora Discovery Park Facebook Page.

Culture Night Landscape Photography Talk

Lough Boora Discovery Park’s Visitor Centre hosted a free Culture Night Landscape Photography Talk by Veronica Nicholson on Friday 19 September 2014.

Inspiring and informative, Veronica Nicholson is a renowned photographer who, against the backdrop of an exhibition by Athlone Photography Group guided guests through the techniques needed to perfect their landscape photographs.

This Culture Night event was brought to you by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in partnership with Offaly County Council.

To enquire about hosting your next event at Lough Boora’s Visitor Centre, please register your event online.

About Culture Night

This event was brought to visitors at Lough Boora Discovery Park by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in partnership with Offaly County Council.

Culture Night is an annual all-island public event that celebrates culture, creativity and the arts. On Culture Night, arts and cultural organisations and venues of all shapes and sizes, including the National Cultural Institutions, extend their opening hours to allow for increased access to the public. Special and unique events and workshops are specifically programmed at participating locations and everything is available free of charge.

Culture Night has grown from a relatively small scale cultural event staged only in Dublin in 2006 to the significant national cultural event it now is, with some 350,000 people visiting museums, galleries, historic houses, artists’ studios and cultural centres across the country. The initiative has captured both the public imagination and the enthusiasm of artists and cultural organisations. For more information, visit the Culture Night website.