Kilkenny's Lacken walk set for major upgrade as funding confirmed

Kilkenny's popular Lacken Walk is to receive a substantial upgrade with confirmation today that €500,000 has been allocated by Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys, titled Embracing Ireland’s Outdoors - an ambitious and transformational National Outdoor Recreation Strategy.

Local councillor Andrew McGuinness, who has been campaigning for such an investment for some years, has welcomed the investment.

"I'm delighted to welcome this funding as it is badly needed and something I have consistently raised at council meetings for some time," he said.

"The boardwalk has become very popular, particularly during and after Covid, and the walk itself is far too narrow for the footfall its getting and to facilitate people with young children, buggies, cyclists and so on. So, this gives us an opportunity to rectify that and widen the boardwalk while at the same time replacing the timber which is old and rotten in parts.

"Its a fantastic walk and one I have enjoyed since I was a child. My father would bring us for long walks down the Lacken growing up and we have fond memories there so Im particularly delighted to see €500,000 invested into such a special part of the St John's Parish," said Cllr McGuinness.

Also receiving funding today is the Millennium Forest which will get €200,000 for Trail Enhancement and Accessibility and Jenkinstown Wood will be granted €200,000 for the Walking Trail Rehabilitation Scheme.

Welcoming the overall announcement, Deputy John McGuinness said, "this is fantastic news for Kilkenny and great to see that projects that we have been fighting for have now been granted substantial funding which will make a very positive difference."

"As we have seen all through Covid, our outdoor spaces are hugely important for both our physical and mental health and so any investment like this is a welcome one and I look forward to watching these projects progress," concluded Deputy McGuinness.