New local bike hire operator running service in Lough Boora

A new bike hire operator has been appointed by Lough Boora Parklands to run a bike hire service in Lough Boora during the summer months, the Midland Tribune has learned this week.

A confidential source told the Tribune that the bike hire service in the park has been noticeable by its absence this year, which has been a big source of frustration for locals and visitors alike.

The new operator is Jonathan O'Meara, a successful Banagher businessman who is running two local enterprises and will be running as an Independent candidate in next year's local elections.

Jonathan oversees Mid Ireland Adventure Tours and the Slieve Bloom Mountain Bike Centre. Mid Ireland Adventure Tours is operating the new bike rental service. "We started operating in Lough Boora the week before June bank holiday," Jonathan told the Tribune, "and so far we have got a very warm, very positive welcome. Most of the people hiring the bikes are from Offaly and the surrounding counties. We have also had German and Italian visitors. We hope to run corporate packages as well." Jonathan said he will operate the service during the summer months. "Hopefully it will prove viable and we can continue to run it in years to come." Two people (one full-time, one part-time) are working in the service at present.

In April 2021 a controversy broke out when it was announced by Bord na Móna that a company run by Dublin hurling and football star Conal Keaney had won the contract to run the bike hire service in Lough Boora. This meant that local man Pat Barrett, who had been running the bike hire business in the park for several years and was employed in Derrinlough Briquette Factory, had lost the contract. Many people were angry with Bord na Móna for not awarding the contract to Pat and for giving it to someone who wasn't a local person.

Mr Keaney's company, Phoenix Park Bikes, didn't operate their service in the park until last year's tourism season. However, this year many people said they hadn't seen it operating, and it eventually became clear that Phoenix Park Bikes had left the area.

Meanwhile, in a recent Council meeting, Cllr John Leahy pointed out that the road network in Lough Boora is in a very bad state. The Councillor told Birr Municipal District on Monday evening that the surface of the roads often leaves a lot to be desired and many locals and tourists are complaining about it. The roads are often very narrow and have enormous dips.