Ballyhoura and Cuilcagh Lakelands UNESCO Geopark Launch Community-Led Regenerative Tourism Development Model

Communities from both sides of the border have taken another major step in reshaping how rural tourism can grow regeneratively, inclusively, and from the ground up.

On Monday, the Community-Led Regenerative Tourism Destination Model (CDM) was officially launched at Ballyhoura Mountain Lodges by the Ballyhoura Sustainability Tourism Network, in partnership with Ballyhoura Development CLG and Cuilcagh Lakelands UNESCO Global Geopark.

This launch marks the next stage in a pioneering cross-border initiative funded by the Shared Island Civic Society Fund, which places local communities at the heart of rural tourism development. The CDM provides a practical and adaptable framework for how destinations can deliver real, lasting benefits for people, place, and future generations.

Developed through a cross-border collaboration between Ballyhoura Development CLG and Cuilcagh Lakelands UNESCO Global Geopark, and funded by the Shared Island Civic Society Fund, the CDM provides a practical, adaptable framework to guide how rural areas can develop tourism that delivers real, lasting benefits for people, place, and the future.

“The CDM provides a framework that demonstrates what’s possible when communities are empowered to shape their own tourism future,” said Gráinne O’Connor, Manager of Cuilcagh Lakelands UNESCO Global Geopark. “It captures the lived experience of people working on the ground and translates it into a model that can inspire and guide other destinations on their regenerative journey.”

The CDM reflects the combined experiences of the Ballyhoura and Cuilcagh Lakelands communities, who share a common vision for tourism that gives back more than it takes — enriching both local life and the visitor experience.

Over the past year, the two regions have worked together to explore how tourism can be a driver of regeneration, social inclusion, and pride of place. Through collaboration, shared learning, and community engagement, they have shown how local people can shape tourism that benefits both residents and visitors.

“This collaboration allowed us to exchange experience and ideas, showing that when communities come together, tourism can be a genuine force for good,” said Sean Corrigan of Marble Arch Caves. “It’s about protecting what makes each place unique while ensuring tourism brings real local benefit.”

The CDM was developed through a series of immersive learning journeys held in Ballyhoura and the Cuilcagh Lakelands UNESCO Global Geopark, where over 30 community enterprises, local leaders, and tourism providers came together to share ideas and experiences.

Through site visits, workshops, and reflection, participants identified practical ways to balance tourism growth with environmental stewardship and community wellbeing — resulting in the co-creation of a model built on shared values and collective action.

“The learning journeys created genuine connection and trust between two communities that share the same values,” said Amanda Slattery, Development manager at Ballyhoura Development CLG. “What stands out most is the shared commitment to tourism that gives back more than it takes — to people, to place, and to the environment.”

The Community-Led Regenerative Tourism Destination Model (CDM) outlines six interlinked pillars that demonstrate how communities can take ownership of their tourism future and foster long-term social, cultural, and economic benefits.

“This project has been about connection — between people, places, and shared values,” said Margaret O’Sullivan of Deebert House Hotel in Kilmallock.

By placing people and place at the heart of development, the CDM provides a pathway for rural destinations across Ireland — and beyond — to foster tourism that enhances both community life and visitor experience.

The launch of the CDM represents not only the culmination of collaboration between Ballyhoura region and Cuilcagh Lakelands UNESCO Global Geopark, but also the beginning of a new chapter — one where rural communities lead regeneration and shape their own tourism futures.

With communities at the helm and regeneration as the goal, the CDM sets a new standard for how tourism can deliver real, lasting benefits — for people, for place, and for future generations.

Partner Information:

• Ballyhoura Development CLG is a community-led local development organisation working across East Limerick and North Cork to support inclusive rural development, enterprise, tourism, and community wellbeing.
• Cuilcagh Lakelands UNESCO Global Geopark is a cross-border protected area spanning Fermanagh and Cavan, dedicated to celebrating and protecting natural heritage while supporting sustainable tourism and community engagement.
• The Shared Island Civic Society Fund supports cross-border civic initiatives that strengthen cooperation, understanding, and connections across communities on the island of Ireland. It is part of the Government of Ireland’s Shared Island initiative.

Irish Government’s Shared Island Civic Society Fund is administered by the Department of Foreign Affairs