Forest Park ‘disappointed’ it is no longer part of CIE Tours schedule

Lough Key Forest & Activity Park has expressed disappointment that it will not be among the visitor attractions included in CIE Tour’s international itineraries next year despite featuring in the schedule for the last three years.

In 2023, CIE Tours included the Boyle recreational facility in one of its international coach tour itineraries for the first time since the company was founded in 1932.

Lough Key Forest & Activity Park featured again in 2024 and this year but it won’t be part of the 2026 schedule.

Chief Operating Officer of CIE Tours, Stephen Cotter, explained to the Herald that they give all guests on all tours a detailed survey to complete at the end of the tour.

“We worked with Lough Key staff to see if we could make it different and we made a few tweaks and changes along the way. But it just wasn’t working for us so we just had to make a change then,” he said.

The visit to Lough Key is being replaced with an afternoon visit to Carrick-on-Shannon.

Reacting to the news, Dermot Beggan, general manager of Lough Key Forest & Activity Park said: “We, at Lough Key Forest & Activity Park, are naturally disappointed by this development, and we understand the decision was based on a combination of factors, including tour attendance levels and customer feedback.” 

Mr Beggan explained that over the past two years, CIE tour numbers at Lough Key had declined. “As a result, we experienced a number of cancellations from CIE Tours, where passenger volumes were not sufficient to support running that particular itinerary,” he said.

The general manager outlined that plans were announced last year to develop Lough Key Forest & Activity Park. “These plans are focused on enhancing the visitor experience and upgrading our offering, which we believe will position Lough Key Forest Park as a world class visitor destination for domestic and international visitors alike.

“We remain proud of our partnership with CIE over the past three years and hope to welcome them back in future seasons as we continue to develop the park’s growth and long-term sustainability,” he said.

Over the last three years, the park featured in CIE Tour’s ‘The Scots Irish Tour’, which again includes Arigna Mining Experience.

The 15 day ‘The Scots Irish Tour’ tour commences in Edinburgh and moves onto Belfast, Donegal, Roscommon, Galway, and Kerry before finishing in Dublin.  The tour includes a two-night stay in Kilronan Castle Estate & Spa in Ballyfarnon which Mr Cotter said continues to prove highly popular for visitors.

Last year, the castle hotel was rated among CIE Tours’ best hotel accommodation, as decided by guests.

Strokestown Park House and the National Famine Museum will also feature again in 2026 as part of another CIE international coach tour called ‘Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way’.