The sod has been turned on the new Shannon Pot Discovery Centre in West Cavan today. The development at Cavan Burren Park will upgrade the visitors centre there, provide new walks including a raised walk to allow visitor enjoy the spectacular views of Cuilcagh, over Garvagh Lough and towards Lough Allen.
Construction will take approximately twelve months with a further three-month fit-out period with the first visitors expected to be using the Discovery Centre in January 2026. Cavan County Council and Fáilte Ireland have contributed funding of just over €10m for the project. Calling the sod-turning event as an "historic day for Glangevlin, Blacklion and West Cavan", Councillor J P Feeley, who has grown up beneath Cuilcagh welcomed the "massive investment" for his locality.
Minister of State at the Department of Tourism, Thomas Byrne TD performed the sod-turning at the event which was attended by local councillors including Patricia Walsh, Áine Smith, John Paul Feeley and Deputy Brendan Smith of Fianna Fáil, independent Councillor Brendan Fay and Sinn Féin's Pauline Tully TD. The Minister laid out what the development means for the local area: "It's an honour to turn the sod here on behalf of the Department because it is a really important chapter because we are turning a corner fo9r tourism in the region," Minister Byrne said, "Cavan and this region after this project is completed; you will boast a world-class visitor experience and you'll just be selling yourselves on a whole other level. I know that both sites are part of the Cuilcagh UNESCO Geopark and are linked via the Cavan Way an, it's clear the hidden heartlands won't be hidden for long."
