THREE NEW cycling routes, to be known as the Seán Kelly Cycling Routes, are to be developed as part of a €5.6 million funding package for 12 tourism projects in seven counties announced yesterday.
A total of €169,000 has been set aside for the routes in honour of the cycling legend who is supporting the scheme.
The routes are being developed from Dungarvan and taking in Carrick-on-Suir, Clonmel, Ardmore, Youghal, Lismore, Bonmahon and Tramore.
Kelly, a native of Carrick-on-Suir and consistently one of the top achievers in world professional cycling over two decades, learned his cycling skills in the southeast.
One of the routes to be developed, the 100km Dungarvan-Carrick-on-Suir-Clonmel-Dungarvan cycle, forms part of the annual Seán Kelly Tour cycling event.
The announcement was made by Séamus Brennan, the Minister for Arts, Sports and Tourism, who gave details of almost €4 million for environmental works and improvement to facilities and €1.4 million for various walking routes. The Minister said the aid was coming from the Tourism Infrastructure Fund launched in 2007 to support local authorities and other infrastructure providers to develop appropriate facilities for tourists.
He announced the successful applicants for grants which pay up to 75 per cent of eligible expenditure. They included a grant of €97,962 to develop a Mount Leinster area walk; €1,851,012 for the Lough Derg International Waterpark, Twomilegate; €213,225 for the development of the Sliabh Liag walking route, Donegal; €417,746 for Lough Gur development, Co Limerick; and €1,199,753 for the development of Shannon Harbour in Co Offaly.