€200,000 for Slieve Aughty Centre

A UNIQUE ecotourism project in South-East Galway was awarded €200,000 under the Rural Development Programme this week.
Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Phil Hogan announced he has sanctioned Galway Rural Development Co Ltd to approve funding of up to €200,000 to the Slieve Aughty Centre, Loughrea. This money will provide the necessary financial support to allow Esther Zyderlaan, T/A the Slieve Aughty Centre, to complete an accommodation unit, which will enable the centre to expand its ecotourism facility. The centre offers a sustainable tourism amenity that aims to work in harmony with the local environment, while simultaneously offering a unique eco-friendly option for home visitors and tourists alike.
“This project represents a way forward for rural tourism in Ireland by combining the need to provide interesting and healthy activity options with the need to ensure that such activities are environmentally conscious. The project will not only provide direct support to the project promoter as a local entrepreneur but will also be of immense benefit to both local communities and visitors to the region.
“Tourism activities generate income in rural communities that would otherwise not be earned. Indeed, tourism is one of the most effective ways of redistributing wealth, having significant potential to move money into ‘local’ economies from other parts of the country and overseas. I have no doubt that this project will act as a focal point in Loughrea, attracting visitors to the region and supporting the development of rural tourism in the county as a whole,” Minister Hogan said, when announcing the funding.
The minister added, “This project will now go back to the Board of Galway Rural Development Ltd for the final approval. This is in line with the EU’s “bottom-up” approach to rural development.”
Overall, Galway Rural Development Community Ltd is being allocated more than €15 million, while Forum Connemara will receive nearly €9.7m.