Environment and Heritage

Walking Routes

The Town Centre will be linked by Walking Routes to other areas of natural beauty and historical sites as indicated below.

(Click to enlarge)

Stemming outwards from the bridge and Hotel on the main street, it is propose to complete and interconnect the above series of walking routes, such as the Mill Race walking routes and the Heritage routes to our historical sites. These routes will be a major part of our Tourism Strategy linked to the enhancement of the historical sites. Conservation and enhancement of these historical sites (shown above) should be progressed through the OPW, County Councils and Tourism Ireland.

Opportunities exist for development and tourism at the “Rock” with it’s Norman Tower (1171), Ballea Castle (1500s), the Holy Well, and Drake’s pool, as well as from the Pottery tradition in Carrigaline.

Existing Town Park and Wildlife Park

Considerable progress has been made in the Town park surrounding the Community Complex, in the provision of play areas, pathways, preschool and the Swan lake. Ambitious plans for the redevelopment of the Complex are currently being advanced by the Community Association, which should future enhance the facilities.

Town Park

Carrigaline Tidy Towns (CTT) have significantly enhanced the Park and the town through landscaping, and created the impressive Wildlife Park, leading easterly to the new Crosshaven walking and cycling routes. 

Heron taking fight from Wildlife Park

The CTT have detailed elsewhere future objectives for landscaping and enhancement at a number of important sites throughout the town, which are viewed as complimentary to this overall town enhancement plan


Natural Park

West of the town centre, Carrigaline is blessed with a Natural Park running along the banks of the Owenabue river, with its old Mill Race which is intimately linked to it. This large green area is to be conserved as a linear, natural park for the town, accessible from the existing new entrance road at the Soccer club (Ballea road), via a Mill Race walkway/route from the town, and a new entrance from Kilmoney Road.The area is a natural floodplain and habitat for ducks, herons and other wildlife, and to be set aside as linear park for all of Carrigaline to enjoy, with access from the main street and the mill race. The maintainence of this inner linear town park is a key element of our future vision for our town.

Plan showing proposed Natural Park an other specified amenities (Click to enlarge).

On the southern field of the park, are to be located the Community Sports Centre and playing pitches, in addition to a Community Garden/Allotments, and a retirement village (See Town Streetscape Plan).