Major EU funding boost for Westmeath tourism projects
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Back from left, Alan Maye (Mullingar Bike Hire), Carmel Duffy (Athlone Castle), Grainne O’Malley Burke (Hightown Forest Camp and Farm), Barry Leonard (Foxglove Farm), Úna Doris (tourism officer), Jillian Maye (Greville Arms Hotel), Timmy Donovan and Ciaran Donovan (Lough Ree Tours), Christine Charlton (head of enterprise), Anne Marie Corroon (senior executive officer) and Helen de Lacy (JTF tourism activator); front, Caroline Young (Little Buds Natural Wellness), Sheena Quirke (Fore Distillery), Mary Goldsberry (district manager Mullingar/Kinnegad), Deirdre Reilly (director of services), Cllr Aoife Davitt (cathaoirleach), Barry Kehoe (chief executive), Lauren Gregory (Mullingar Chamber of Commerce), Mary Glynn (Shamrock Lodge), Jean Ryan (director of services) and Cathy Sullivan (Fáilte Ireland).Image 2 of 3
Council staff who have worked on the Just Transition allocations. Back row (L-R)Úna Doris (Tourism Officer), Christine Charlton (Head of Enterprise), Anne Marie Corroon(Senior Executive Officer), Carmel Duffy (Athlone Castle) and in front left, Mary Goldsberry (District Manager Mullingar/Kinnegad), Deirdre Reilly (Director of Services),Cllr. Aoife Davitt (Cathaoirleach), Barry Kehoe (Chief Executive) and Jean Ryan (Director of Services).Image 3 of 3
Council staff with enterprises allocated funding for digital projects: At back from left,Grainne Cornally (Fáilte Ireland), Christine Charlton (Head of Enterprise), Carmel Duffy (Athlone Castle), Jillian Maye (Greville Arms Hotel), Cathy Sullivan (Fáilte Ireland), Lauren Gregory (Mullingar Chamber of Commerce), Mary Glynn (Shamrock Lodge), Alan Maye (Mullingar Bike Hire), Mary Goldsberry (District Manager Mullingar/Kinnegad).In front from left, Helen de Lacy (JTF Tourism Activator), Sheena Quirke (Fore Distillery), Caroline Young (Little Buds Natural Wellness), Deirdre Reilly (Director of Services), Cllr. Aoife Davitt (Cathaoirleach), Barry Kehoe (Chief Executive), Jean Ryan (Director of Services), Úna Doris (Tourism OfficeTourism projects across Westmeath have received a significant funding boost under Fáilte Ireland’s EU Just Transition Regenerative Tourism and Placemaking Scheme during 2025, Westmeath County Council has revealed.
The scheme, which is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the EU Just Transition Fund, is aimed at supporting sustainable economic development and job creation across the midlands.
Almost €60 million has been announced to date under the scheme for the Just Transition region, which includes Westmeath. Of that, €16 million has been awarded to private and community SME projects, while €26 million has been allocated to local authorities and strategic partners. A further €9.4 million has been approved for BnM to begin developing a network of universally accessible trails on its lands.
In Westmeath, 10 private and community tourism projects received funding during 2025. They include €300,000 for Lough Ree Tours to enhance guided boat tours on the Shannon and Lough Ree, €300,000 each for Deravarra Farm Lake Lodges and Foxglove Farms to develop self-catering accommodation, and €51,320 for visitor experience upgrades at Fore Distillery. Smaller grants were also awarded to projects including Hightown Forest Camp and Farm, Little Buds Natural Wellness, Mullingar Bike Hire and Torleh Ltd.
Funding was also approved for major local authority projects in the county. Westmeath County Council received €187,500 to develop a new visitor experience masterplan for Belvedere House, Gardens and Park, while a €3.2 million investment was announced for significant enhancements at Athlone Castle Visitor Centre. In addition, €561,803 was approved for the detailed design and planning of a new boardwalk and outdoor urban swimming pool along the River Shannon in Athlone.
Cathaoirleach of Westmeath County Council, Cllr Aoife Davitt, said the funding represented a strong vote of confidence in the county, supporting jobs while strengthening Westmeath’s tourism offering. Chief executive Barry Kehoe said the investment would help build a more sustainable visitor economy and deliver long-term benefits for local communities.
The EU Just Transition Fund is designed to support regions most affected by the move away from carbon-intensive industries, with Ireland set to receive up to €169 million in combined EU and Exchequer funding by 2027.