Laois benefits from Mildand Just Transition funding but big winners are in Kildare and Roscommon

Although three projects in Laois secured combined funding of €562,000, almost half of the latest round of Fáilte Ireland EU Just Transition Scheme for the Midlands went to two projects located in Kildare and Roscommon.  

Between them, the two projects secured €2.4 million of the €5.5 million allocation for 17 Regenerative Tourism Projects across the Midlands. 

Kildare’s outdoor adventure centre Zipit Donadea Ltd secured €1.2 million, while in Roscommon the Irish Heritage Trust was awarded €1.2 million to develop outdoor areas and trails to create an engaging and family friendly visitor experience at Strokestown Park. 

In Laois the largest grant went to Preston House in Abbeyleix where  €274,500 was awarded towards the development of three new luxury, wellness-themed, sustainable accommodation units located in the wooded gardens. 

The Sportsman’s Inn, also known as O’Connell’s, secured a total of €202,504. The gastropub is owned by former Laois Offaly Garda Chief Superintendent John Scanlan and his wife Ann Marie, a former Garda Assistant Commissioner. They took over the Cullohill establishment in 2024. It was previously run by Elizabeth O'Connell, mother of Darina Allen and Rory O'Connell of Ballymaloe Cookery School fame. The new project was granted €89,000  in Just Transition funding earlier this year to help convert rooms into tourist accommodation. 

This latest round of funding will be used for accessibility enhancements through the upgrade of four ensuite bedrooms and development of accessible ensuite bathrooms, complementing an accessible gastropub on the ground floor and through the development of accessible bathrooms and changing facilities, accessible routes and parking, accessible signage, hearing aid amplifiers, and staff training. 

Elsewhere in Laois, the Council was awarded €87,000 for a feasibility study to transform Donaghmore Workhouse into a premier visitor attraction. 

Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke and Fáilte Ireland announced the 17 projects that were awarded funding under Fáilte Ireland’s Regenerative Tourism and Placemaking Scheme worth over €5.5 million. 

Part of the EU Just Transition Fund (JTF) programme, co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union, this is the fifth announcement of successful projects under both the Private and Community SME scheme, and the Local Authority and State Agency schemes. 

Minister Burke welcomed the announcement and said: “These projects will play a vital role in supporting sustainable economic development and job creation across the midlands, while enhancing the region’s appeal to visitors from home and abroad.

The projects announced today highlight the significant opportunities that initiatives like the EU Just Transition Fund can bring to the midlands - empowering communities, strengthening local economies, and delivering long-term benefits for tourism and enterprise.” 

Minister for Climate, Environment and Energy Darragh O’Brien T.D. said he was thrilled by the announcement. 

“These projects are a vital step in unlocking the sustainable tourism potential of the region, in addition to providing economic and employment benefits to local communities. I look forward to seeing the transition of the Midlands to a world-class regenerative tourism destination through these innovative projects,” he said. 

CEO at Fáilte Ireland, Caroline Bocquel said: “These projects will deliver innovative visitor experiences and low-carbon accommodation across Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands and Ireland’s Ancient East, helping to sustain local communities and create new opportunities for employment. 

The projects announced today highlight the significant opportunities that initiatives like the EU Just Transition Fund can bring to the midlands - supporting economic resilience and competitiveness, empowering local businesses, and enhancing the region’s appeal to both domestic and international visitors.

With this latest round of investment, the total funding awarded under the scheme now comes to almost €60 million – a significant milestone that reflects the impact this regenerative tourism scheme is making across the midlands.” 

A/Director of the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly (EMRA) Clare Bannon said: “EMRA welcomes Fáilte Ireland’s announcement of funding for 17 additional tourism projects under its Regenerative Tourism and Placemaking Scheme. These grants will support local communities and businesses, delivering real value and laying the groundwork for a more vibrant, inclusive, and prosperous future across the region... The latest projects announced under this scheme join an ever-expanding list of EU Just Transition Fund-supported initiatives across the Midlands that are enabling growth and diversification of opportunities.”