Lough Boora Discovery Park

Reclaimed industrial peatland turned nature reserve and outdoor sculpture park

Lough Boora Discovery Park covers over 2,000 hectares of reclaimed cutaway bogland about 20 kilometres west of Tullamore. The landscape is flat, open, and sky-dominated — an acquired taste that rewards those willing to slow down and look carefully. The walking and cycling trails are good, and the birdwatching is excellent: golden plover, curlew, whooper swans, and hen harrier all use the site. The large outdoor sculpture trail, installed from 2006 onwards, places monumental works by Irish and international artists across the open bog — a strange and effective combination.

The park is car-accessible from the R357 road. The terrain is easy and largely flat, making it suitable for families and cyclists. There is no entry charge. A dedicated cycling path runs from Tullamore to the park for those who want to combine it with a cycle.

things to do sight
A story
The boglands around Lough Boora were industrially harvested for peat by Bord na Móna from the 1940s onwards. By the early 2000s the extraction was done and the company handed the land over for reclamation. What was barren cutaway bog has been transformed into a wetland nature reserve that now attracts internationally rare birds. The giant outdoor sculptures installed across the landscape make it one of the more original public art projects in Ireland.