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12 Jan 2026
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12 Jan 2026
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Zipit Forest Adventures Ltd, Donadea will receive €1.2m in funding
Kildare County Council is delighted to announce that five regenerative tourism projects in County Kildare have been awarded funding through Fáilte Ireland’s Regenerative Tourism and Placemaking Scheme. This scheme is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union under the EU Just Transition Fund (JTF).
The five Kildare-based projects receiving funding are:
Zipit Forest Adventures Ltd, Donadea (€1,200,000)
Lullymore Heritage & Discovery Park, Lullymore (€300,000)
Burtown House & Gardens, Athy (€300,000)
Boattrips.ie, Athy (€48,000)
Cycling Trails and Tours in Irelands Midlands (€43,000)
The major funding for Zipit Forest Adventures is described as for the development of an outdoor activity centre featuring a high ropes course, zipline, and treetop nets for ages 5+, with a visitor reception cabin and spectator facilities.
Funding for Lullymore Heritage & Discovery Park will support the development of the visitor experience with a new electric train, mobility scooters and a digital app.
Two Athy projects have been back with Burtown House & Gardens receiving €300,000 to develop four off-grid eco cabins and Boattrips.ie receiving support to enhance the visitor experience with river and canal tours departing from Athy.
Cycling Trails and Tours in Irelands Midlands will receive €43,000 to enhance the visitor experience with cycling and walking tours in Kildare, Laois, and Offaly, complete with bicycles and equipment.
The five successful projects will deliver innovative visitor experiences, low-carbon accommodation and support local communities by creating new employment opportunities, while protecting and enhancing the environment.
This announcement follows a wider funding allocation in December 2025, when Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke and Fáilte Ireland, confirmed over €5.5 million for 17 tourism projects under the Regenerative Tourism and Placemaking Scheme.
This investment is further supported by the Tourism Activators Scheme, which provides dedicated business support services delivered by Kildare County Council as part of Fáilte Ireland’s Regenerative Tourism and Placemaking Scheme.
Speaking about the scheme, the Cathaoirleach of the County of Kildare, Councillor Carmel Kelly, said: “We were delighted with the high level of engagement from Kildare SMEs, community groups and social enterprises in the Fáilte Ireland Regenerative Tourism and Placemaking Scheme.
The newly awarded projects will further enhance Kildare’s rich tourism offering while regenerating communities, strengthening local economies, and delivering long-term benefits for tourism, enterprise and the environment”.
Jacqui McNabb, Head of Economic Development, Enterprise, Retail and Tourism, Kildare County Council added: “Our team supported over 70 organisations through this initiative providing professional mentoring, training and advice throughout the rigorous grant application process.
We continue to support these projects and all tourism businesses across the county with training, mentoring and financial supports through the Local Enterprise Office.”
To date, almost €60 million has been announced under the
The scheme also supports 82 businesses participating in the Tourism Learning Network Programme, 66 participants in the Digital Transformation Programme, and 8 Tourism Activators - one in each county across the territory.
Gráinne Cornally, Head of Just Transition, Fáilte Ireland, said: “We’re so pleased to see such a strong and diverse range of projects in County Kildare receive funding through Fáilte Ireland’s Regenerative Tourism and Placemaking Scheme. These projects are a perfect example of how this scheme is enhancing the visitor experience and providing new opportunities for destinations across the Midlands. Investments like this help sustain local communities by supporting job creation, empowering local businesses, and providing more reasons for domestic and international tourists to visit this part of the country.
This announcement also highlights the transformative impact that initiatives like the EU Just Transition Fund can have on rural tourism development. We look forward to seeing these projects come to life and to continuing our close collaboration with local tourism businesses, communities, the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly (EMRA), and our strategic partners as we deliver further projects under this scheme in the months ahead.”
Tourism businesses in County Kildare can access business supports, mentoring and training through the Local Enterprise Office by contacting the Tourism Activator Annmarie Sweeney on 045 906254 or amsweeney@kildarecoco.ie
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