The Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) involves the development of natural amenities such as our woodlands, mountains, rivers, lakes, beaches, bogs, walkways and will place a particular focus on developing amenities for adventure tourism in rural Ireland.

The funding is aimed at supporting outdoor recreation tourism, a growing tourism sector internationally, which has the potential to have major economic spin-off benefits for our rural towns and villages as well as improving the health and well-being of rural communities.

A list of eligible activities is detailed below, however, it should be noted that this list is not exhaustive;

The scheme does not include activities that take place outdoors on confined courses or pitches (such as Gaelic Games, golf, soccer, and show-jumping) or motorised activities (such as quads/scramblers). As a consequence, such activities are not eligible for funding under ORIS.

It is a requirement that the infrastructure funded under ORIS should be available free of charge to the public.

Kilkenny County Council makes applications for a number of projects throughout the county at each funding call.

Successful past projects funded by ORIS include:

• Woodstock Gardens & Arboretum – Inclusivity and Accessibility Enhancement Scheme 
• Jenkinstown Wood Enhancement Scheme
• Lacken Boardwalk Replacement Scheme
• Kilkenny Countryside Park
• Abbey Meadows, Callan Trail Enhancement Scheme
• Silaire Wood, Graigenamanagh Walking Trail Extension
• Rehabilitation of the Ardra Looped Walk & Arboretum Walk – Castlecomer Discovery Park
• Castlecomer Discovery Park Masterplan Plus Planning & Design for Free Activity Attractions
• Ennisnag Loop Walk - New 2km loop walk
• Millennium Forest - Trail Enhancement and Accessibility Scheme

For further information on the wonderful walks and trails that exist throughout Kilkenny, please see https://www.trailkilkenny.ie/

For more on the wide variety of outdoor activities available in Kilkenny, please see https://outdoorkilkenny.ie/

To find out more about the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) see https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-rural-and-community-development-and-the-gaeltacht/services/outdoor-recreation-infrastructure-scheme/