Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD, has officially opened the Oweninny Wind Farm Visitor Centre and Sensory Garden in North Mayo.
The Visitor Centre and Sensory Garden are part of the wider Oweninny Wind Farm project, a joint venture between ESB and BnM (formerly Bord na Móna). While today marks the official opening of the centre, it has already become a valued focal point for the area with family events, social gatherings, ceilís, concerts and community activities regularly booking out within hours, and schools seeking more opportunities to visit.
The purpose-built visitor centre offers an engaging and educational experience for visitors of all ages, showcasing the region’s unique journey from peat production to renewable energy generation. Through a range of interactive exhibits and engaging displays, visitors can explore how the landscape, environment and local community have evolved alongside this transition, including the ongoing rehabilitation of the boglands and the restoration of their natural biodiversity.
The visitor centre also has a 5km walking trail where interpretive signage brings the folklore, history and ecology of the peatlands to life and a café with a magnificent view of the surrounding landscape.
The newly developed sensory garden provides a welcoming outdoor space that encourages relaxation, learning and connection with nature. Through a range of sensory experiences and thoughtfully designed features, the garden offers visitors an opportunity to engage with the natural environment in a calm and meaningful way.
Dara Calleary, Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, said:
“The Oweninny Visitor Centre and Sensory Garden are a wonderful addition to North Mayo, providing a welcoming space for local communities and visitors alike while creating opportunities for education, tourism and recreation. I commend everyone involved in bringing this project to fruition and creating a lasting resource that will benefit the area for generations to come.”
Kathy Rowland (BnM), Manager of the Oweninny Visitor Centre, said:
“We are delighted to officially open the Oweninny Wind Farm Visitor Centre and Sensory Garden. The centre brings the region’s transition from peat production to renewable energy to life, while celebrating North Mayo’s people, heritage and natural environment. We hope it will remain a place of learning, discovery and enjoyment for local communities, schools, families and showcase how renewable energy and nature restoration can co-exist.”
Sinéad Kilkelly, Executive Director People and Sustainability ESB said:
“The Oweninny Visitor Centre demonstrates how renewable energy projects can create lasting benefits for local communities. Through this centre and sensory garden, visitors can see first-hand the scale of Ireland’s energy transition, learn about the rehabilitation of the boglands and gain a deeper understanding of the role renewable energy plays in delivering a net zero carbon emissions future.”
The Oweninny Wind Farm Visitor Centre is open to the public from Thursday to Sunday, June to September and hosts a range of educational and community-focused activities that promote renewable energy and local heritage. Larger groups like schools, community groups or businesses are also welcome and can arrange bookings by contacting the visitor centre directly. For more information visit Oweninny Wind Farm.
