Lough Boora Discovery Park

Overview

Lough Boora Discovery Park, set in the heart of the Irish midlands, is a 2,000‑hectare landscape of cut‑away bog, lakes, wetlands and newly planted woodlands. Open 365 days a year, the park blends natural regeneration with cultural ambition: 50 km of sign‑posted walking and cycling routes wind past more than 20 large‑scale sculptures, a 1.5 km fairy‑themed trail for children, and a series of lakes that support both angling and bird‑watching. The visitor centre, café and free parking make it a convenient day‑out for families, cyclists, school groups and wildlife enthusiasts alike.

History

Archaeological work in the 1970s uncovered one of the earliest known Mesolithic settlements in the Irish midlands. Stone tools, burnt bone and a rich assemblage of hazelnuts proved that a small hunter‑gatherer band lived on the shores of what is now Lough Boora over 8,000 years ago. The site was later transformed into a peat‑harvesting area, supplying more than a million tonnes of turf each year until the late 20th century. After the peat industry receded, the landscape was rehabilitated into the sanctuary you see today, preserving both the ancient human story and a thriving biodiversity.

What to See & Do

Sculpture Park

The park’s sculpture trail is a living gallery of contemporary art that dialogues with the reclaimed bog. Highlights include:

• Sky Train by Michael Bulfin – a rusted ‘Rustin’ train and open‑creel wagons lifted into a rainbow‑coloured arch.
• Earth and Sky by Alfio Bonanno – a 7 m tall wooden form that frames the horizon.
• System No 30 by Julian Wild – an 18 m serpentine of reclaimed metal skimming a canal.
• Rhythms of Time by Marian O’Donnell – intersecting circles of railway track that shift with the sun.
• Raised Line, Raised Circle and Burrow Shelter by Maurice MacDonagh and Caelen Bristow, each echoing the industrial heritage of the former peat works.

Fairy Trail

A 1.5 km loop beginning behind the pavilion winds through willow‑lined passages, fairy doors, wishing stones and toadstool‑shaped clearings. Fourteen resident “fairies” are said to dwell among the hidden doors, making the trail a magical adventure for children and the young‑at‑heart. The walk typically takes about 90 minutes.

Lakes, Wetlands & Angling

• Boora Lake – a family‑friendly coarse‑fish lake with picnic spots and a historic railway embankment walk.
• Finnamore Lakes – two upper and lower lakes stocked with carp, rudd and bream; adjacent fen wetlands host rare plants such as blunt‑flowered rush.
• Loch Clochan – a 4 ha trout‑stocked lake where fly‑fishing is permitted on a ‘put‑and‑take’ basis.
• Loch an Dochais (Lake of Hope) – a shallow, accessible lake that hosts the All‑Ireland competition for disabled anglers and offers a gentle family fishing experience.
• Tumduff Beag & Tumduff Mór – raised bird hides with wheelchair access, ideal for spotting grebes, tufted ducks, lapwings and occasional hen harriers.

Biodiversity

The park is a stronghold for several threatened species: the dingy skipper butterfly, blue fleabane, alder buckthorn, white‑clawed crayfish and the last remaining Irish population of the grey partridge. Ongoing surveys by BirdWatch Ireland monitor whooper swans, lapwings and other wet‑land birds.

Activities & Facilities

• Cycling – 22 km of designated cycle routes (Mesolithic, Farmland and Turraun loops) can be explored on site‑hire bikes. Bike hire is available on Saturdays and Sundays; bookings can be made online or by calling 085 1735204.
• Guided Tours – specialist tours covering art, archaeology and biodiversity run from April to October and can be arranged via the park’s online enquiry form.
• Play Areas – a fairy‑themed playground and open‑air picnic zones are situated near the pavilion.
• Café – serves hot and cold refreshments that can be enjoyed on the award‑winning visitor‑centre deck.

Practical Information

Getting there – The park lies roughly 7 km south of Blueball on the R357, between Tullamore, Birr and the historic monastic site of Clonmacnoise. Public transport options are limited; most visitors arrive by car.

Fees – There is no entry charge for the visitor centre, trails or sculpture park. Fees apply for bike hire, guided tours and angling permits (available locally at Cloghan Angling Club or via the park office).

Seasonal notes – The sculpture installations change appearance with weather and light, offering a different visual experience each visit. Bird‑watching is especially rewarding in spring and autumn when migratory species pass through the wetlands.

Whether you are tracing the footsteps of Mesolithic hunters, cycling past towering steel artworks, or simply picnicking by a tranquil lake, Lough Boora Discovery Park delivers a uniquely Irish outdoor experience that blends history, art and nature in one expansive, family‑friendly setting.