Call for vital upgrades at Portumna park after Coillte drops masterplan

Coillte drops the masterplan for Portumna Forest Park.
Community surveys gather almost 1100 responses supporting modest upgrades.
Fifty-fivepc of respondents visit weekly or daily.
Toilets require urgent replacement beyond the temporary facility.
Local lobby groups seek funding and ongoing engagement with Coillte.

Coillte has scrapped the masterplan for Portumna Forest Park in County Galway earlier this month. The original plan includes a visitor hub with retail and cafe space shuttle service aerial activities and overnight accommodation. The Portumna Forest Park Community Group mobilises against profit-driven tourism focus.

Community surveys collect almost 1100 responses between December 2023 and September 2025. Respondents support modest elements like biodiversity priorities and basic facility upgrades. Fifty-fivepc visit the park weekly or daily.

Locals push for small vital upgrades after the plan ends. Toilets remain unusable with a temporary pit-latrine installed. The original toilet block dates to before the park opens in 1978. Maedhbh Gordon calls for community involvement in funding and engagement with Coillte.

Maedhbh Gordon shared “The world is falling apart at the moment, so the value of that forest park is so important. We want to be part of the conversation as we are living right beside the park.”