Design for new Shannon Pot Discovery Centre progressing

Consultants meanwhile are working away on the detailed design of the proposed €6.4M Shannon Pot Discovery Centre and linking it with the already hugely successful Cavan Burren Park in Blacklion. That project, announced last year, is already well underway in terms of final design. A series of public consultations in the west of the county have also taken place.

“The funding is already in place for the construction of that so we plan to go through the planning phase and the tendering process, and after that construction.

“We’re looking at planning for later this year, to be still on track to have all completed by early 2025,” said Director of Services, Cavan County Council, Brendan Jennings.

Though he did note that construction costs have increased, Mr Jennings added: “We have to keep within our budget, but like that, we have a vision we want to implement, and we’ll have to design clever as well.”

The council is engaging with national forestry agency, Coillte, asking it to cede control of the Burren Park to the local authority in the interests of protecting the site in future. Coillte have been accused of “poor management” of what many consider to be one of Ireland’s finest prehistoric relict landscapes.

Tree felling and replanting in the sightline of scenic areas, specifically with Sitka Spruce, a non-native tree, have hindered the vistas overlooking nearby Tullygobbin Hill and Tullygobbin Lake.