Comhairle na Tuaithe

Comhairle na Tuaithe (meaning the Countryside Council) was established to advise the Minister for Rural and Community Development on the sustainable development of outdoor recreation. The Comhairle includes state bodies with a role in outdoor recreation, representatives from farming organisations, Mountaineering Ireland and other recreational user groups. Comhairle na Tuaithe led the development of Ireland’s National Outdoor Recreation Strategy.

National Outdoor Recreation Strategy

Embracing Ireland’s Outdoors, Ireland’s National Outdoor Recreation Strategy was launched In November 2022. Mountaineering Ireland had a key role in the development of this strategy with our Access & Conservation Officer, Helen Lawless co-chairing the Strategy Working Group.

Implementation of ‘Embracing Ireland’s Outdoors’ is jointly led by the Department of Rural and Community Development and Sport Ireland, with oversight from Comhairle na Tuaithe.

Mountaineering Ireland will play an active part in the implementation of the strategy, as it addresses key issues for our members, across areas such as greater opportunities for people to engage in outdoor recreation, improving access, protection of the environment and encouraging responsible recreation.

The National Outdoor Recreation Strategy is available here. 

Mountain Access Project

The Mountain Access Project was developed by Comhairle na Tuaithe to provide clarity regarding recreational access, based on the voluntary agreement of landowners in a defined mountain area.

By formally agreeing access with the landowners on a mountain, producing a map showing designated access points, indemnifying the landowners, providing parking and any infrastructure required to sustain recreational use, the Mountain Access Scheme sets out to manage recreational enjoyment of mountain areas in a way that minimises inconvenience for landowners and local residents, and means that use of the area can be promoted with clarity and confidence.

This model of agreed access is currently being piloted in two areas - the MacGillycuddy Reeks and Binn Shléibhe near Clonbur, Co. Galway. In 2021 Comhairle na Tuaithe established a new Sustainable Upland Recreation sub-group, to review the Mountain Access Programme and facilitate its expansion to other areas. This review and expansion is included in the National Outdoor Recreation Strategy.