Community groups and local businesses from the Glencar, Beaufort, Bridia Valley, The Black Valley and the Gap of Dunloe areas are being invited to become involved in the new MacGillycuddy Reeks Mountain Forum which is being established.
The forum is being put in place under recommendations arrived at following an extensive consultation process initiated by SKDP through the INTERREG Rural Alliance project and involving Failte Ireland, The Department of Environment, Community & Local Government, The NPWS, landowners and other partners. The purpose of the forum is to help ensure the long term sustainable management of the MacGillycuddy Reeks under a permissive access model that is acceptable to all interested parties.
SKDP’s Rural Recreation Officer Patricia Deane said that a substantial amount of work has gone into developing a visionary framework for the future management of the reeks involving all interested parties and the establishment of the forum is a key element of this. “It is vital that we have all of the voices around the table in this forum to ensure its future success in achieving its goal” Patricia said. “The aim is that this project will become the blueprint for similar management structures on other upland areas around the country” Patricia pointed out and added that the report produced following a lengthy consultation process and has made a substantial amount of recommendations that will help in the long term successful sustainable management of the Reeks”.
Any community groups and local businesses who are interested in getting involved with this forum and who wish to get more information on what is involved are asked to contact Patricia Deane in the SKDP offices in Library Place in Killorglin or by phone on 087 2031034.
“The MacGillycuddy Reeks are a significant asset to the region and it is vital that everyone has an input into their long term sustainable management so I would encourage all of the community groups and local businesses to get involved” Patricia concluded.
