Overview
Lough Boora Discovery Park covers 2,000 hectares of reclaimed landscape in the heart of County Offaly. What was once a bustling Bord na Móna peat extraction site has been carefully re-wilded into a patchwork of shallow lakes, reed beds, mixed woodlands and open grassland. Open 365 days a year with free entry, the park offers a rare combination of environmental art, ancient archaeology and accessible outdoor recreation. It’s a straightforward, rewarding day trip for families, cyclists, birdwatchers and anyone looking to step away from the road.
From Peatworks to Paradise
Between the 1940s and the early 1970s, this bog supplied over a million tonnes of peat annually. When the machinery stopped, the cut-away pits gradually filled with rainwater, forming the distinctive lakes that now define the area. A decades-long restoration programme has reintroduced native flora and pasture, creating a thriving habitat. Today, you can spot bog cotton blanketing the wetlands in late summer, or look out for the rare Bee Orchid in the grasslands during late May. The landscape also supports deer, wild goats, hares and more than 130 recorded bird species.
Ancient Footprints: The Mesolithic Route
While the modern lakes are a product of 20th-century industry, the area’s human history stretches back millennia. In the 1970s, a Bord na Móna worker found stone tools on the lakeshore, leading to the excavation of one of Ireland’s earliest known Mesolithic sites. Dating to roughly 8,000 BC, the hunter-gatherer camp yielded axeheads, scrapers, burnt bone, fish remains and a large cache of hazelnuts. It proved the midlands were inhabited long before the advent of farming. Visitors can walk the Mesolithic Route, which uses clear signage and information panels to interpret the ancient campsite and its surroundings.
The Sculpture Trail & Fairy Loop
The Sculpture in the Parklands programme launched in 2002, commissioning large-scale works that interact directly with the bog environment. The 2.8 km Sculpture Loop features more than 20 permanent installations built from weather-resistant materials like oak, rusted steel and reclaimed railway parts. Nature is designed to be part of the artwork, with pieces gradually patinaing and blending into the landscape. Standouts include:
- Sky Train by Michael Bulfin – a rusted train carriage lifted into a sweeping, rainbow-coloured arch.
- Earth and Sky by Alfio Bonanno – a 7-metre tall wooden form that frames the horizon.
- Boora Pyramid – a sharp steel pyramid reflecting the surrounding wetlands.
- System No 30 by Julian Wild – an 18-metre serpentine of reclaimed metal skimming a canal edge.
- Rhythms of Time by Marian O’Donnell – intersecting circles of old railway track that cast shifting shadows throughout the day.
For younger visitors, the Fairy Trail is a 1.5 km loop starting behind the visitor centre. It winds through woodland and wetlands with playful signage and small sculptures designed to spark imagination.
Wildlife, Angling & Cycling
The park’s flat, wide gravel paths make it exceptionally easy to navigate on foot, by bike or in a wheelchair. There are roughly 50 km of sign-posted routes, including five marked loops that pass lakes, reed beds and newly planted trees. Two dedicated angling lakes – Loch an Dochas and a smaller companion lake – offer quiet fishing spots. Birdwatchers should bring binoculars; the wetlands attract waterfowl, waders and raptors, with notable sightings including great crested grebe, kingfisher, reed warbler and the last breeding flock of grey partridge in the Midlands. Winter months bring migrating whooper swans and golden plovers.
Bike hire is available on-site during the summer months at €3 per hour, with helmets included. The fleet has expanded to include electric bikes, making the longer countryside loops accessible for all ages. Dogs are welcome on all paths provided they are kept on a leash.
Visitor Centre & Café
The award-winning visitor centre is the hub for information and refreshments. The Organic Kitchen serves Fairtrade coffee and a menu built around locally sourced produce from regional farms. There’s seating on a deck overlooking the lakes, perfect for a picnic or a hot drink.
The park also hosts a steady calendar of community events and activities. The annual Bog Run is a muddy 5 km charity race supporting the Cancer Fund for Children, while the Lough Boora 10km Night Run takes place under the summer moon. Seasonal wildlife walks led by ecologists, artist-led workshops and Tuesday evening/Saturday morning yoga classes in the café area round out the offering. Julie McLoughlin, the park’s Visitor Experience Lead, coordinates these programmes and can point visitors toward the best seasonal walks.
Getting There & Practical Tips
- Location: Lough Boora Discovery Park, Boora, Leabeg, County Offaly.
- Directions: From Tullamore, take the R421 south to the roundabout and bear right onto the N52 towards Birr/Nenagh. Exit right onto the R357 and continue for 8 km; the park entrance is on the left. Public transport options are limited, so driving is recommended.
- Opening & Access: Open daily from dawn to dusk, year-round. Entry is free. The car park is staffed from 08:00 to 18:00.
- Accessibility: Main paths are flat and wide, suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs. The visitor centre and café are fully accessible.
- Bike Hire: Contact Pat at 00353 86 889 5194 for hourly rentals and electric bike availability.
- What to bring: Sturdy footwear for longer walks, binoculars for the wetlands, and a picnic for the lakeside deck. Check the park’s website before visiting for seasonal guided walk schedules and event registrations.
Just a short drive from the town, the park’s flat terrain and clear signage mean you can easily spend a full afternoon tracing the sculpture loop, spotting winter migrants or following the ancient Mesolithic footprints without needing a detailed map.