Ireland’s Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD, has announced a new three-year pilot Upland Recreation Scheme for the MacGillycuddy Reeks, alongside additional funding to strengthen upland path management through the “Helping the Hills” network. The initiatives aim to support sustainable outdoor recreation, protect sensitive upland environments and recognise the role of private landowners in managing public access to mountain areas.
The pilot scheme, the first of its kind in Ireland, will provide payments to farmers and other landowners in the MacGillycuddy Reeks who participate in agreed work programmes focused on maintaining upland paths, managing access points and engaging with the public on responsible mountain use. More than 50 landowners have signed up so far, with annual funding exceeding €100,000 and expected to grow as the scheme develops. The programme is designed to balance increasing visitor numbers with environmental protection while supporting the local rural and tourism economy.
Oversight of the scheme will be led by the MacGillycuddy Reeks Mountain Access Forum and administered by South Kerry Development Partnership CLG. The initiative forms part of a broader approach to managing mountain access in areas that are largely privately owned and actively farmed, ensuring that landowners are recognised and compensated for the work involved in facilitating safe and sustainable recreation.
In addition to the pilot scheme, Minister Calleary announced €90,000 in funding for the first year of a two-year programme to support the “Helping the Hills” network. Led by Mountaineering Ireland, the programme will build skills and capacity in upland path development, address erosion challenges and strengthen collaboration among organisations involved in managing upland environments across the country.
Together, the two initiatives reflect the Government’s commitment to sustainable outdoor recreation, rural development and long-term protection of Ireland’s upland landscapes, while ensuring continued public access to areas of outstanding natural beauty such as the MacGillycuddy Reeks.
