Coillte welcomes greenlight for Lough Key development
Lough Key Forest and Activity Park had 139,000 visits last year.
Coillte has welcomed the decision by Roscommon County Council to grant planning permission for the redevelopment of Lough Key Forest and Activity Park.
In a statement from the semi-state forestry company this morning, Coillte said its 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,” the statement continued.
“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 County Roscommon, which will in turn increase the economic activity within both the local and wider economy.”
Coillte added that 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,” the company said.
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.”
In January, Coillte sought planning permission from Roscommon County Council to carry out major works to enhance and expand its facilities at Lough Key Forest and Activity Park.
The application included plans to build a new aqua park facility, a climbing wall attraction at Moylurg Tower which would also see the introduction of two new ziplines along with minigolf, tubing track, net adventure, rope courses and mini junior karting.
The plans also included a new single storey extension at the existing visitor centre and enhancement of the Adventure Play Kingdom.
It was further planned to develop the camping site to include 20 new glamping pod bases along with improved car parking.
A reconfigured exit onto the N4 was also being sought as was a new walking and visitor routes along with landscaping and other new features such a waterfront picnic area
