Popular Wexford beach gets over €38,000 funding for accessibility
Among the projects, Morriscastle beach in Gorey stands out as Wexford County Council intends to create an accessible viewing stand and lay out 50 metres of beach matts across the beach with €38,052 in funding.
In 2022, following the launch of beach mats to allow for wheelchair accessibility at Rosslare Strand, members of Gorey Kilmuckridge Municipal District announced their wish to roll them out at Morriscastle.
Councillor Mary Farrell is delighted the funding has been approved and is excited to get started on the project. 'It is a fantastic blue flag beach along the North of Wexford.
'We wanted to make it more accessible for people, we have the boardwalk, but we came up with the beach mats to extend from the boardwalk, Cllr Mary said.
A viewing stand is a raised platform where people with limited mobility, wheelchair users, or those with difficulty accessing an area, can view the beach and ocean without having to navigate difficult terrain. While the beach mats provide a durable surface for wheelchairs users, or strollers to travel across sand more easily.
The viewing stand and beach mats would make Morriscastle beach more inclusive and accessible to those who use a wheelchair, allowing them easier access to recreational spaces.
Mary further said she hopes the viewing stand and beach mats will be up and running at Morriscastle next year for the summer season. 'It will be available all year round for everybody to avail of.
'We have the boardwalk, we have the beach wheelchair and now we'll have the viewing stand and beach mats, so it's an addition to that,' Mary added.
Wicklow Wexford TD Brian Brennan has also welcomed the number of developments brought to fruition under the scheme. 'We are extraordinarily lucky to live in a place with such an abundance of natural beauty and it is really important that we continue to invest in the infrastructure to ensure that these areas are accessible and open for use.
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'I want to commend the various community groups who collaborate with key stakeholders to develop and enhance recreational amenities in their locality,' Deputy Brennan said.
In addition to this, many other projects being funded include walking trails, mountain access routes and outdoor swimming amenities at Crory lane link to the Edenvale Walk trail and Sweetwalk trail. The Blackstairs Recreation Trail will undertake a feasibility study for a walking & cycling trail connecting Bunclody, Kiltealy, Killanne, Templeudigan and Ballywilliam.
'Funding provided under this scheme continues to deliver and enhance our recreational offering which is of huge importance to us from a community wellbeing perspective, as well as being a catalyst for tourism in rural areas,' Deputy Brennan added.
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13 hours ago
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Popular Wexford beach gets over €38,000 funding for accessibility
The funding was provided by the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme, where Wexford has seen a number of projects receive funding, totalling nearly €310,000 for eight projects across the region. Among the projects, Morriscastle beach in Gorey stands out as Wexford County Council intends to create an accessible viewing stand and lay out 50 metres of beach matts across the beach with €38,052 in funding. In 2022, following the launch of beach mats to allow for wheelchair accessibility at Rosslare Strand, members of Gorey Kilmuckridge Municipal District announced their wish to roll them out at Morriscastle. Councillor Mary Farrell is delighted the funding has been approved and is excited to get started on the project. 'It is a fantastic blue flag beach along the North of Wexford. 'We wanted to make it more accessible for people, we have the boardwalk, but we came up with the beach mats to extend from the boardwalk, Cllr Mary said. A viewing stand is a raised platform where people with limited mobility, wheelchair users, or those with difficulty accessing an area, can view the beach and ocean without having to navigate difficult terrain. While the beach mats provide a durable surface for wheelchairs users, or strollers to travel across sand more easily. The viewing stand and beach mats would make Morriscastle beach more inclusive and accessible to those who use a wheelchair, allowing them easier access to recreational spaces. Mary further said she hopes the viewing stand and beach mats will be up and running at Morriscastle next year for the summer season. 'It will be available all year round for everybody to avail of. 'We have the boardwalk, we have the beach wheelchair and now we'll have the viewing stand and beach mats, so it's an addition to that,' Mary added. Wicklow Wexford TD Brian Brennan has also welcomed the number of developments brought to fruition under the scheme. 'We are extraordinarily lucky to live in a place with such an abundance of natural beauty and it is really important that we continue to invest in the infrastructure to ensure that these areas are accessible and open for use. ADVERTISEMENT Learn more 'I want to commend the various community groups who collaborate with key stakeholders to develop and enhance recreational amenities in their locality,' Deputy Brennan said. In addition to this, many other projects being funded include walking trails, mountain access routes and outdoor swimming amenities at Crory lane link to the Edenvale Walk trail and Sweetwalk trail. The Blackstairs Recreation Trail will undertake a feasibility study for a walking & cycling trail connecting Bunclody, Kiltealy, Killanne, Templeudigan and Ballywilliam. 'Funding provided under this scheme continues to deliver and enhance our recreational offering which is of huge importance to us from a community wellbeing perspective, as well as being a catalyst for tourism in rural areas,' Deputy Brennan added.
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