There’s a push for funding to progress the Littleton Labyrinth project to the next phase.
Local Councillor Sean Ryan highlighted the potential of the amenity on the Bord na Mona lands following the closure of the briquette factory.
He sought information from council officials in relation to funding for the next step.
“There’s two new phases for the Littleton Labyrinth – there’s the Bushcraft Centre which the Council are dealing with the funding for – and the other then the extension of the pathway. So Phase 1 from Kileen over as far as Lough Doire Bhile has been completed. So Phase 2 is what we’re looking for funding for and currently we’re being told that there’s a feasibility study being carried out on that. Hopefully Bord na Mona will access the funds to get that completed because already there’s been huge usage and take-up of Phase 1 of the Littleton Labyrinth.”
The closure of the Briquette Factory in Littleton in 2017 was seen as a hammer blow to the area.
However local Councillor Sean Ryan says the village and its surrounds has been fighting back as the use of Just Transition Funds has attracted new businesses to the Bord na Mona site.
“Since then there has been a number of facets to the area which have really helped. You have the opening of Sabrina Marketing and the Trifold Company – both of those received European funding – and now you have the Littleton Labyrinth and the car park there right beside it and that has brought benefits as well in terms of tourism.
“I’ve said before it will be a gamechanger for Mid-Tipperary when it fully gets going because people will be cycling and hopefully it will bring more people into the area which will benefit the local eateries and so on.”
