Celtic Interconnector-funded walking trail opens in Cork

EirGrid, the operator and developer of Ireland’s electricity grid, and its French counterpart, Réseau de Transport d’Électricité, are building the Celtic Interconnector, a 575km subsea link between Ireland and France, that will enable the movement of electricity between the two countries, making Ireland’s electricity supply more secure.

The cable will make landfall near Youghal and will then run westwards across East Cork to Knockraha.

Community benefit fund

EirGrid set up a community benefit fund to recognise the importance of local communities along the route, and it has distributed almost €840,000 to 29 local groups and clubs under the first round of funding.

Lisgoold Leamlara Community Council got €37,000 to create a fully accessible, looped near-2km walking trail through the Coillte-owned Leamlara Woods, which is on part of the former Standish Barry estate.

Declan Whelan, who was involved in the project, praised the small but dedicated team who worked on it, including Ger Clifford and Fidelma McEvoy.

“The trail was used a lot during covid,” said Mr Whelan. “It was a place of solace for a lot of people.

“But it has now been made fully accessible, with interpretive signs along the way providing information and QR codes to link to a website with maps and other digital resources telling the story of the former Leamlara House and the former Standish Barry estate.

“Funding from EirGrid under the Celtic Interconnector community benefit fund was instrumental in getting this project over the line as was the support of Secad, and the permission and excellent guidance from Coillte, and advice from the local Bishop Ahern National School.

“In phase two, we hope to make the existing trail more accessible to the residents of an adjoining nursing home, and to extend the trail to make that section a bit more challenging.”

EirGrid’s community liaison officer Michelle Walsh said they were proud to support the community project.

“The trail, which provides a safe and scenic walkway for all ages, is a testament to the power of collaboration and community spirit,” said Ms Walsh. 

It is incredible to see how this funding has transformed an idea into a reality, creating a beautiful and accessible amenity for everyone to enjoy.”

The community benefit fund is set to allocate a second round of funding next year, and a third round when the scheme is complete, with applications open to community groups, not-for-profit organisations, and social enterprises who can demonstrate the benefits to communities from the services, programmes, or facilities they provide in the project area.

It has funding bands ranging from €500 up to a maximum of €125,000 per project.

The Celtic Interconnector project team marked one year of construction in November, with substantial portions of underground cable now in place, and the next stage of the cabling process, joining cables, under way.

Preparatory works in Irish waters have been completed, and a massive converter station has been built near Carrigtwohill, which, once complete, will convert direct current to alternating current and vice versa, allowing the flow of electricity exchange between the Irish and French grids.

Once complete in 2026, the cable will transport 700mw of electricity, enough to power over 450,000 homes.