Two new water sports centres have been announced for seaside destinations in north and south Donegal today.
The new investment will provide outdoor water-based facilities in seaside hotspots Downings and Bundoran.
“This is great news for Donegal and for the projects in Bundoran and Downings. The investment will help create local employment and will encourage further tourism in these towns,” said Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine and Donegal TD, Charlie McConalogue.
A total of €19million will be invested nationally in all-weather changing facilities, secure storage and bathrooms at beaches and inland water spots.
The ‘Tullan Strand Centre for Water Sports Activities’ will provide for Bundoran locals and visitors, while the Downings centre will be located at Cnoc Na Muirleog.
Each centre will provide hot showers, changing and toilet facilities, secure storage, induction spaces, equipment washdown and orientation points.
The significant increase in people enjoying outdoor water-based activities such as kayaking, surfing, paddle-boarding and open water swimming is expected to continue to grow year on year, and not just during the summer months. This means all-weather changing facilities, secure storage and bathrooms at beaches and inland water spots will be in huge demand.
They will be fully wheelchair accessible and built using sustainable materials such as solar heating panels to meet ‘Nearly Zero Energy Building Standards’.
This investment scheme, developed in partnership between Fáilte Ireland and Local Authorities, will support the local economy and the outdoor activity sector by significantly enhancing the overall visitor experience, providing new business opportunities in local communities and allowing for the extension of the tourism season beyond the traditional summer months.
A second phase is expected to commence in 2023 under Fáilte Ireland’s Platforms for Growth capital investment programme.
