€30 million Peatlands and People Discovery visitor attraction for bog in west Offaly

A bog in west Offaly has been chosen as the location for a major €30 million Peatlands and People Discovery visitor attraction.

The new development will be located in the Blackwater Bog Group area and forms part of the project brief for ‘Ireland's Climate House’, founded in EU LIFE IP Peatlands and People - a seven-year climate action project responding to Ireland’s Climate Action Plan.

Welcoming the news that Offaly has been chosen as the Midlands location, and that the project has now gone to tender, Offaly Cabinet Minister Pippa Hackett said: “Ireland’s Climate House is a future-focused attraction providing an experience for the visitor in terms of knowledge, perspective and opportunities to address Ireland’s, and the planet’s, environmental needs. Our peatlands are a precious resource in terms of storing carbon, restoring biodiversity and supporting local communities in new jobs taking care of our environment.

“I am delighted that, after much consultation and planning, it is proposed that the project, subject to planning and funding, will be on

The Minister said this is an exciting time for Offaly and the wider Midlands.

“The EU Just Transition fund will see €168million invested here over the coming years and this announcement is further proof of this region’s commitment to delivering a sustainable future, for the peatlands and the people.”

The visitor attraction, which will target both domestic and international annual visitors, will offer year-round indoor and outdoor encounters providing opportunities for change, hope, and transformation, by incorporating three major themes;  1. Encounter Nature, 2. Power of Nature , 3. Our Future Together

The attraction finds its starting point in the recognition of the significance of peatlands for climate and biodiversity and aims to provide visitors with the context, motivation and tools to adopt sustainable behaviour change in harmony with Nature.

On the matter of timelines, Minister Hackett said “the design and delivery of the project has now gone out to tender for appointment by April and I understand that it is proposed that planning would be submitted by July 2024. The delivery of this project will mark a significant milestone in the Midlands’ transition from brown to green and this will no doubt be transformative for Co. Offaly”.