The Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture Food and Marine has planted a tree and turned the sod today on what will be a new 166-acre native woodland park at Cloonamahon, near Collooney in County Sligo.
The project, the first such extensive project of its kind in the country, comprises land owned by the HSE, Coillte and Western Forestry.
More than 100,000 native trees will be planted on the 166 acre Cloonamahon site, made up of 105 acres owned by the HSE, 40 owned by Coillte and 23 by Western Forestry Co-Operative.
Work has already started on several new walking trails and will include picnic areas, a recreational play area, map boards and signage, with the possibility of a link to a nearby greenway.
It will also include 50 acres of old native woodland and a lake.
Fifteen acres of Coillte-owned woodland is being transformed from a commercial Sitka Spruce forest to native woodland.
There will be four-and-a-half kilometres of paths in Phase One of the project.
Five kilometres of deer fencing is being erected, all sourced and produced in Ireland.
Speaking to Ocean FM News at Cloonamahon this morning, Minister Pippa Hackett said the project was significant for a number of reasons, including its scale and the cooperation between various State bodies.
https://filedn.com/lglCaxamfnlV2gaMY6rU7tH/News%20Clips%202020/hackette%20ONE%20.mp3
Today's event in Cloonamahon was among the first of its kind since the relaxation of Covid restrictions.
Among those present was the chief executive of the HSE, Paul Reid.
https://filedn.com/lglCaxamfnlV2gaMY6rU7tH/News%20Clips%202020/reid%20ONE.mp3
Martin Beirne, HSE property manger for Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal, readily admitted he was passionate about the project.
He says he always saw the potential for such a project in Cloonamahon.
https://filedn.com/lglCaxamfnlV2gaMY6rU7tH/News%20Clips%202020/Martin%20Beirne%20one.mp3
Marina Conway, CEO of Western Forestry Co-Op, said reaching today's milestone is the result of the work of many people and agencies.
And she singled out Martin Beirne for special mention
https://filedn.com/lglCaxamfnlV2gaMY6rU7tH/News%20Clips%202020/marina%20edited%20piece%2021.mp3
For many older people, Cloonamahon will be remembered as the location of the monastery run by the Passionist Order, as Minister of State Frank Feighan recalled today.
https://filedn.com/lglCaxamfnlV2gaMY6rU7tH/News%20Clips%202020/feighan%20cloonamahon%20clip%20.mp3
