The Commissioners of Irish Lights (CIL) are celebrating the launch of the first ever all-Ireland lighthouse tourism trail with Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Leo Varadkar and Arlene Foster MLA, Minister for the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investement.

The launch will be held at Blackhead, Co. Antrim next Wednesday.

CIL are developing the lighthouse trail to preserve and conserve the maritime heritage of Ireland and re-invigorate an appreciation for lighthouses. The developments will see visitor facilities at every lighthouse on the trail allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the history of the site through Learning Zones, tours and even overnight in themed accommodation.

#INLAND WATERWAYS - The first phase of a project to restore the Thomastown river was launched at the weekend with the opening of a new weir, the Kilkenny People reports.

Fundraising efforts by the Thomastown Community River Trust have already led to the regeneration of the riverbank from the town up to Thomastown Viaduct.

The new causeway also forms part of a planned trail from Bennettsbridge to Inistioge.

The trust's project was "focused on using environmentally friendly and sustainable engineering", working in partnership "with a diverse range of groups from walkers to kayakers and anglers".

Work is already underway on the second phase that aims to see the restoration of the weir, which collapsed in 2008, as well as the sluice and mill wheel, in an effort to re-establish the swimming pond and fish pass.

The Kilkenny People has more on the story HERE.