Construction has begun on phase 1 of the Slieve Bloom Mountain Bike Trails (MTB) project.

Metro Construction has been appointed to develop the phase, and will work alongside Coillte and Offaly and Laois County Councils.

Phase 1 will consist of 35km of mountain bike trails (MTB), split with approximately half in Co Laois, Baunreagh and half in Co Offaly, Kinnitty.

Funding of €1 million under the Department of Rural & Community Development's 2017 Rural Recreation Scheme was secured by Offaly County Council. The two County Councils are also providing over €200,000 each in match funding to assist in bringing the project to fruition.

Planning permission is in place for a National Scale MTB centre in the Slieve Blooms which will see over 100kms of trails in the two counties, linked across the top of the mountains by an on-road section at Wolftrap Mountain.

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Speaking on behalf of Coillte, Daithi deForge, project manager said: "The Slieve Bloom national scale MTB system, when taken in conjunction with the existing very successful trails system in Ballyhoura on the Limerick/Cork border, at Ticknock in the Dublin Mountains and the proposed trails system at Coolaney, Co Sligo will make Ireland very attractive as a destination for international mountain biking tourists."

Anna Marie Delaney, Chief Executive of Offaly County Council said: "The project could not have progressed to this very exciting stage without the very close co-operation between the two Local Authorities and Coillte and we at all stages noted the tremendous support for the project from the local community and elected representatives on both sides of the mountains."

Further phases are planned in order to complete the trails system as soon as possible, subject to funding being allocated. The entire project will cost approximately €5m. It is expected that the project will give a major boost to existing and new local businesses and it is important that accommodation packages, food and drink offerings and links to the many other attractions on both sides of the mountains are developed in tandem with the trails.

(CM)