New amenities for Castle Lake

Work is expected to commence in the New Year on a number of amenities at Castle Lake.

A new 30-space carpark and a family seating/outdoor education are set to be built on the shores of the local lake.

The developments are set to be carried out using funding of €101,731.50 secured from the Department of Rural & Community Development under the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure scheme 2021 by the Bailieborough Development Association’s Castle Lake committee. The project has gone to tender and a preferred contractor has been selected and, subject to the successful completion of post-tender requirements, will be appointed soon. This brings the total funding for Castle Lake to date to over €218,000.

This funding is made up of a further €102,000 given by the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme in 2018 and €15,500 from Cavan County Council. Some of the projects carried out to date include major drainage work on the trails, a new carpark at the Drumkeary entrance, the creation of a new peace trail, a seating/viewing area, Pat's View, trail signage, the creation of a master plan for the area, and the planting of the peace forest. The trails and lake area are widely used by the local community and are attracting large numbers of visitors to the amenity, causing the existing carparks to be full on a regular basis. Castle Lake Committee would like to thank Coillte, John O'Donoghue, Derry Scanlon, Gabriel Hurson, Joanne Hayes, Susan Monaghan and Siobhan Mulligan from Cavan County Council, Frank and Patricia Cooney from Cooney Architects.

"Without their hard work, this funding could not have been secured. We would also like to thank the Community Employment Scheme workers for keeping the area maintained and looking well all year round," said a spokesperson.