- Galway County Council has confirmed work will begin in early 2027 on two community tourism projects
- The Aughrim Climate Action Park and Shannon Bank Eco Park received a combined €820,427
- The funding comes from the EU Just Transition Fund START Programme
- Aughrim received €502,315 and Shannon Bank received €318,112
- The schemes will improve biodiversity and add sustainable infrastructure
Work on two major community tourism projects in East Galway is set to begin in early 2027 after securing a combined investment of €820,427. Galway County Council has confirmed that work will begin on the Aughrim Climate Action Park and Shannon Bank Eco Park Development. The funding is co-financed by the Irish Government and the European Union under the EU Just Transition Fund START Programme.
The Aughrim project received €502,315 for the rehabilitation of 1.7 hectares of agricultural land into a climate-resilient community amenity with measures to enhance local biodiversity. The Shannon Bank project received €318,112 for sustainable infrastructure and universal accessibility enhancements including energy-efficiency measures, outdoor learning pods and biodiversity upgrades.
These allocations build upon previous regenerative tourism investments secured across the Ballinasloe Municipal District. The initiative supports regions previously heavily reliant on peat harvesting, steering them toward sustainable economic diversification and green tourism. The funding was announced by the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment.
