Kilkenny County Council
Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme
The Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) involves the development of natural amenities such as our woodlands, mountains, rivers, lakes, beaches, bogs, walkways and will place a particular focus on developing amenities for adventure tourism in rural Ireland.
The funding is aimed at supporting outdoor recreation tourism, a growing tourism sector internationally, which has the potential to have major economic spin-off benefits for our rural towns and villages as well as improving the health and well-being of rural communities.
A list of eligible activities is detailed below, however, it should be noted that this list is not exhaustive;
Land-Based | Water-Based | Air-Based |
Walking | Canoeing/Kayaking | Paragliding |
Hillwalking/Hiking | Rowing | Hand-gliding |
Leisure Cycling | Wild Swimming |
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Mountain Biking | Surfing |
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Horse Riding | Coasteering |
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Running | Wind Surfing/Kite Surfing |
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Orienteering | Sailing |
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Bouldering. Scarmbling, Rock Climbing, Mountaineering | Diving |
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Caving | Angling |
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Play in nature | Stand Up Paddleboarding |
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The scheme does not include activities that take place outdoors on confined courses or pitches (such as Gaelic Games, golf, soccer, and show-jumping) or motorised activities (such as quads/scramblers). As a consequence, such activities are not eligible for funding under ORIS.
It is a requirement that the infrastructure funded under ORIS should be available free of charge to the public.
Kilkenny County Council makes applications for a number of projects throughout the county at each funding call.
Successful past projects funded by ORIS include:
- Woodstock Gardens & Arboretum – Inclusivity and Accessibility Enhancement Scheme (link to section below)
- Jenkinstown Wood Enhancement Scheme (link to section below)
- Lacken Boardwalk Replacement Scheme
- Kilkenny Countryside Park (link to Countryside Park page)
- Abbey Meadows, Callan Trail Enhancement Scheme
- Silaire Wood, Graigenamanagh Walking Trail Extension
- Rehabilitation of the Ardra Looped Walk & Arboretum Walk – Castlecomer Discovery Park
- Castlecomer Discovery Park Masterplan Plus Planning & Design for Free Activity Attractions
- Ennisnag Loop Walk - New 2km loop walk
- Millennium Forest - Trail Enhancement and Accessibility Scheme
For further information on the wonderful walks and trails that exist throughout Kilkenny, please see https://www.trailkilkenny.ie/
For more on the wide variety of outdoor activities available in Kilkenny, please see https://outdoorkilkenny.ie/
To find out more about the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) see https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-rural-and-community-development-and-the-gaeltacht/services/outdoor-recreation-infrastructure-scheme/
