Coillte, Ireland’s semi-state forestry company, has welcomed the decision by Roscommon County Council to grant planning permission for the redevelopment of Lough Key Forest and Activity Park. Coillte’s next step is to secure funding partners to progress the project to construction, with engagements commencing in due course. Meanwhile, Coillte will assess the planning conditions to ensure all requirements can be met.
Lough Key Forest and Activity Park is one of Ireland’s most popular recreation sites with almost 200,000 visits recorded in 2025. Under this proposed redevelopment, Coillte and Roscommon County Council, together with Waterways Ireland, aim to enhance the Park’s existing offerings to encourage local, national and international visitors to spend more time in Co. Roscommon, which will in turn increase the economic activity within both the local and wider economy.
The intention is to evolve the park into a mature, all year-round visitor destination while preserving its natural and cultural setting. Key features would include the creation of Ireland’s longest, highest and fastest twin zipline, extension of existing campsite and enhanced camping facilities, additional aerial adventure zones from Zipit, new water activities through a floating aqua park, as well as upgrades to the trail network and an enhanced Rockingham Remembered Tour to highlight the rich history of the park.
Coillte’s focus over the coming months will be to:
- Ensure all conditions attached to the planning permission are met
- Continue working closely with project partners
- Secure the necessary funding required to progress the project to construction and delivery
While planning approval is a very positive development, it is one stage in the overall process, and progression to construction will be subject to securing the required funding.
Coillte would like to acknowledge the funding support provided by Fáilte Ireland’s Regenerative Tourism and Placemaking Scheme, co-funded by the EU and the Government of Ireland under the EU Just Transition fund. This funding enabled the development of the strategic plan that has now received planning approval. The next phase will focus on securing funding to deliver the project.
Viewers will recall that plans for the redevelopment were lodged on January 8th, with further information sought in March.
The development includes:
1. Expansion of Visitor Centre:
Part demolition and single story extension to the existing visitor centre
Provision of outdoor seating / dining and hard landscaped public realm areas and routes
Associated enhanced welfare, retail, catering and event / indoor activity facilities.
Ancillary elements including utilities / welfare / energy (including substation and switch room building) / service / storage yard area and structures, bin store, cycle parking store, electricity generator enclosure, rooftop solar PV array and signage / branding.
2. Expansion of Existing Outdoor Activities
Provision of new single storey Activity Centre / Hub building measuring c. 279 sqm (and associated facilities, yard, plant, storage, etc.), linking paths / stepped accesses, rooftop solar PV array and signage / branding.
Provision of wall climbing attraction to existing Moylurg Tower.
Provision of Zipline attraction (2 no. lines), from (new departure platform zone on) existing Moylurg Tower to proposed receiving structure, associated Landing Zone and access path on Drummans Island, and associated tree / vegetation clearance / pruning of zipline corridor.
New activities including Minigolf, Tubing Track, Net Adventure, Ropes Course and Mini/ Junior Karting.
Outdoor activities storage containers at waterfront area.
3. Expansion of Existing Outdoor Amenity Offering
Public realm / landscaping to Rockingham House basement area, stair and platform lift accesses from lawn level, equipment / works necessary for climbing of Moylurg Tower and upgraded enclosing fence at lawn level.
Public realm / landscaping to lawn level surrounding basement area, partial covering with tensile type structure and provision for incidental trading.
Enhancements to Adventure Play Kingdom including partial covering with tensile type structure.
Revision of existing and provision of new pedestrian / visitor routes, paths and incidental features (seating, benches, wayfinding, 3 no. timber waterfront pergola structures, etc.).
Public realm / landscaping at Church and waterfront area.
Provision of waterfront picnic area.
4. Expansion of Existing Water-Based Activities Offering
Expansion of existing Waterways Ireland Marina facilities: i) Remove existing (floating) and construct new (fixed) Breakwater; ii) additional Jetty / expanded jetties and berths; and, iii) all associated works;• Provision of (inflatable / floating / moveable / removable) Aquapark facility / obstacle course within Lough Key (north of Rockingham Jetty)
Repurposing (and enclosure with pontoon) of existing Rockingham Jetty area to provide swimming facilities.
Provision of kayak launch at Rockingham Jetty.
Associated and ancillary landside facilities as necessary.
5. Expansion of Existing Campsite Offering
Upgrade / expansion of paths, hardstanding areas and services (including 20 no. additional pitches/bays).
Refurbishment of existing Campsite amenity building.
Outdoor covered dining structure.
20 no. glamping pod bases to accommodate glamping tents/structures and associated single storey service/facilities building measuring c. 101 sqm.
Additional campsite car parking area.
Ground mounted Solar PV array.
6. Supporting amenity, infrastructure and ancillary development throughout the Park
Reconfiguration of exit arrangement at existing main vehicular access to N4 road;
Roads / transport improvements including new coach/bus set down area, reconfiguration of existing car parking, reconfiguration of internal road / track network, electric vehicle charging, cycle parking and extension to car parking.
Provision and/or upgrade of mechanical and electrical infrastructure including transformer / substation, cabling/ducting routes and public lighting and all associated cabinetry and structures.
Provision and/or upgrade of water supply, wastewater and surface water infrastructure (including extension and upgrade of existing as necessary) and all associated cabinetry and structures.
Hard and soft landscaping, signage, branding and wayfinding.
Site development, enabling works and temporary works above and below ground.
