Protect Portumna Forest Park

23/03/2026

Delighted to have been contacted by Emma Smith Local Democracy Galway Journalist of the Irish Independent. We look forward to working with Coillte and their Portumna Forest Park partners like Fáilte Ireland and Galway County Council to action the top asks from our community survey i.e. upgrades toilet facilities, expanded wildlife habitats, more benches and seating area (to name but a few). There are so many great ideas that the 1095 community respondents shared when completing the community survey and we welcome working collaboratively and in partnership with Coillte and other users of Portumna Forest Park.

https://m.independent.ie/regionals/galway/news/call-for-vital-upgrades-at-galway-park-after-coillte-drops-masterplan/a1229739884.html

Port Omna Beo Portumna, Co. Galway Love Portumna Portumna parkrun Portumna Tidy Towns Portumna Castle CELT Shannon Oaks

After the masterplan for Portumna Forest Park, in County Galway was formally scrapped by Coillte earlier this month, locals are now pushing for small – but vital – upgrades as they highlighted the park’s importance and potential.

07/03/2026

Media coverage of our communities call to work in partnership with Coillte to support the community survey actions being achieve. The top 3 can be achieved quite simply - namely: upgraded toilet facilities, expanded wildlife habitats, more benches along trails.

https://www.galwaybayfm.ie/galway-bay-fm-news-desk/coillte-urged-to-reengage-with-community-on-portumna-forest-park-215388?fbclid=IwdGRjcAQY8c5jbGNrBBjxxGV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHkT-tIhH28VSEDVWLrqButbTNs1yuW09RduzM6KVaPJWZCq74N37SE4OpaWI_aem_O9TW6eno9rfkW9BQtvVM-A

There's a call for state-agency Coillte to re-engage with the local community on the future of Portumna Forest Park.

04/03/2026

Thank you Louis O'Hara - Sinn Féin for this support.

Coillte have announced that they will not proceed with their proposed development plan for Portumna Forest Park. They will instead be focusing on damage repair, maintenance and safety following the impact of Storm Eowyn.

Well done to the Protect Portumna Forest Park group who represented community concerns in relation to this development and undertook extensive community engagement in relation to the future of the park.

Their community survey showed strong support for improved toilet facilities, signage, seating and other improvements while also protecting and enhancing the park’s natural and recreational value.

These modest improvements being called for by the community can and should go ahead. I have urged Coillte to re-engage with the local community and local stakeholders to ensure that these improvements can be made to enhance the experience for all who visit this wonderful local amenity.

04/03/2026

UPDATE WILL BE ANNOUNCED SHORTLY!