A looped walk around Annaghmakerrig Lake near Newbliss is set to be opened up more fully to the public after Monaghan County Council, Coillte and the Tyrone Guthrie Centre signed a memorandum of understanding on the management and future development of the trail.
The agreement was signed on 21 September 2026, according to Monaghan County Council, during a sitting of the Ballybay–Clones Municipal District at the centre. The Anglo-Celt reported that Cathaoirleach Cllr Aidan Campbell and chief executive Robert Burns joined representatives of the Tyrone Guthrie Centre and Coillte for the ceremony after the district meeting.
What the partnership covers
The three partners share ownership and operational roles around the estate and woodland. Under the MoU, the council has committed to seeking capital funding, supporting agreed projects and works, and helping develop recreational infrastructure. A masterplan for the area is a key next step: the council says it will identify future opportunities, guide investment, coordinate works and underpin applications for outside funding.
Planned improvements flagged by the council include enhanced walking trails, better signage, greater accessibility and visitor facilities, with the aim of lifting visitor numbers and strengthening the area's tourism offer while protecting the character of the place.
"Really special" — Coillte and the centre
The Tyrone Guthrie Centre, founded at the ancestral home of theatre director Sir Tyrone Guthrie, offers residential workspaces for artists from Ireland and abroad. Director Anna Walsh told the Anglo-Celt that about 20 artists — soon rising to 21 or 22 — spend time at Annaghmakerrig for most of the year, and that opening the lake walk would strengthen the link between residents and people living nearby.
Coillte director of forestry operations Eamonn Kenny, speaking at the lakeside signing, said the setting mattered not only for Monaghan but culturally for the country. "I think there is a chance to do something really special here, not just for the visitors that come here to the Tyrone Guthrie Centre, but for the local community," he said, according to the Anglo-Celt.
Respecting solitude and opening access
Cllr Richard Truell, then acting cathaoirleach of Ballybay–Clones MD, told Northern Sound the deal was about more than a signature — it was about keeping a valued amenity thriving for future generations. He described the walk as a place to enjoy the landscape, connect with nature and experience Annaghmakerrig's heritage.
Mr Burns said the partnership goes beyond the trail, with scope to work together on funding and cultural initiatives, while opening and maintaining access "in a way that respects the privacy and sensitivity of the estate." Cllr Campbell called it a good example of partnership: local people should be able to walk the beautiful setting while the solitude of artists, poets and writers in residence is still respected.
For walkers and families in the Ballybay–Clones district, the MoU is the formal start of a longer job — masterplan, funding and trail works — rather than a finish line. Anyone following countryside access in the county can also keep an eye on our events board and local coverage from Newbliss and Clones.
