Plans for County Roscommon glamping pods lodged with council

Plans to develop eight glamping pods near Boyle have been lodged recently with Roscommon County Council.

The applicants are seeking permission to construct the pods along with a reception/games room and carparking at Glooria townland, Cavetown, Boyle.

According to the planning documents, each proposed pod will be of low height - 4.98m - and designed to resemble agricultural buildings as they will be set within a rural landscape setting.

Each will contain a total floor area of 41 square metres and consist of a kitchen/dining/living room, one bedroom, bathroom and a mezzanine, which can operate as an additional sleeping area.

In the planning application, the applicants believe that the proposed development will provide much needed additional tourist accommodation to a growing niche market and for those who wish to explore Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands, “where they can become submerged in nature and have access to the surrounding outdoor water and land activities”.

“The development will provide accommodation to visitors throughout the year and will complement the strong tourism offering of North Roscommon and South Leitrim.

“This will enable visitors to stay for an extended period in Roscommon, therefore assisting the local economy and creating an additional micro circular economy in this rural community,” they state.

In correspondence contained in the planning documents, Roscommon Tourism Officer Lisa Joy said she was delighted to see this proposed development.

“I think it is a great idea and is very welcome for Roscommon and the Cavetown Lake and Boyle area. Roscommon County Council has supported ORIS (Outdoor Recreation Funded Projects) in this area in recent years to enhance the walkway etc. so we see the potential this location has to offer for outdoor leisure pursuits such as walking, kayaking etc,” she said.

Ms Joy noted that Boyle, which had received huge investment under Fáilte Ireland’s Destination towns project to enhance the town’s public realm and tourism infrastructure, was now becoming a real tourist hub with wonderful attractions such as King House, Boyle Abbey, the newly opened An Ríoga and Lough Key Forest and Activity Park.

Pointing out that visitor numbers to the area were growing year on year, she said Roscommon was being developed as a top quality tourist destination over the next five years with the launch of the 2025-2030 Roscommon tourism strategy later this year.

In her correspondence, the tourism officer also highlighted the Night and Day Festival, one of Ireland’s newest family friendly music festivals and strongly supported by Roscommon County Council.

She said the festival was also growing year-on -year bringing large number of visitors to Boyle and Lough Key who may not all want to camp but might like a self-catering option nearby.

“There is a very obvious gap in the accommodation market in the north of the county so a proposal like yours is very welcome and I would be very supportive of it,” she said.

In another correspondence, Gillian McGarry, the council’s EU Just Transition Fund Tourism Activator, welcomed it as another accommodation solution in an area which was in need of high quality accommodation.

County planners are due to make a decision on the development by August 5th next.