merrion street

Speaking at a press event in Glenveagh National Park on Saturday 20th July to highlight an innovative and enterprising partnership initiative between Grassroutes and the National Park which is under the Department of Arts, Heritage & the Gaeltacht, Minister of State at the Department, Dinny McGinley TD,  welcomed the innovative service which provides visitors with the opportunity to hire electric and hybrid bicycles making the park and the surrounding countryside more accessible and easy to explore.

These bikes are a new and original way to enjoy the picturesque scenery that Glenveagh and County Donegal has to offer appealing to all types of riders, no matter what age or level of fitness while using an environmentally friendly mode of transport. Three hour rental is available for as little as €10 per person with Electric and Hybrid bikes available within the Park.

In recent times, the National Park has undertaken extensive capital works programmes allowing for all tourists including visitors with reduced mobility, families with buggies and bicycle users to safely travel through the park from the visitor centre to the castle on the newly constructed pathways.  Dave Duggan, Park Manager said that now the fundamental infrastructure is in place, it was a natural progression to provide bicycles to allow the more adventurous and independent visitor to explore the park at their own pace and he acknowledged the very successful partnership that the park now has in place with Grassroutes.

Speaking of the bike initiative Minister McGinley commented that “North West Donegal is an area where the number of tourists have increased year on year.  However, to benefit from the full beauty of the local landscape and the unique individual cultures, visitors should be encouraged to stay longer in the locality rather than taking a brief visit or passing through to another destination.  An E-Bike is a wonderful way to see firsthand what our beautiful county has to offer rather than simply driving through in a car” the Minister added

Grassroutes, based at Craoibhín Community & Enterprise Centre in Termon, is managed by Comhlacht Forbartha an Tearmainn, a community based non-profit group covering the parishes of Termon, Gartan, Kilmacrennan and surrounding areas in northwest Co. Donegal. The initial funding for the centre was received from Pobal, Udaras, IFI and the Office of the Minister for Children. Along with local contributions, the organisation benefits from grant assistance under the Department of Arts, Heritage & the Gaeltacht.   Grassroutes employ 16 people, with 3 people working on internship for the summer and 2 people working on unemployment schemes.

Plans are underway to  expand their business over the next three years with the purchase of additional equipment and the inclusion of further routes.  Grassroutes hope to forge more partnerships with local hotels, B&B’s and service providers along the proposed tour routes and in other counties.  Commenting on the innovative and creative product offering, Minister McGinley said that ‘unique and quality product offerings and in particular in terms of tourism, which represent good value for money with the correct approach can stand the test of time even in difficult economic climates’.   The Minister concluded by wishing them every success with their future endeavours.