Greenways [greenway map of Ireland in post 1]

Quick update on the Barrow Blueway, shortly before Christmas the section of surface under construction at the northern end was completed and opened up to the public but it was the most low key opening I've ever heard of, there wasn't a word about it out of any of the local politicians or organisations who had promoted it, I'm sure this was due to Covid restrictions.

Of course word spread and very quickly it was and continues to be heavily used with people coming from all around to try it out, despite there being very few carparking spaces and none of the usual ancillary fixtures you'd expect on a greenway being available (new gates ect, bikes had to be lifted over the old gates for example). In fact it was so busy down there that waterways ireland opened up the various obstructions on the opposite bank and that is now quite busy as well, especially by people with big dogs it seems to me.

At the southern end works weren't as advanced, only a small section had the final dust layer but it seems (due to covid restrictions I wasn't down there till recently myself) that some of the fencing "blew down" and locals were using it as well even in the unfinished state.

According to the latest county council update this led to safety concerns so works have restarted there to finish the started section and it seems to continue then to link the Southern section to Athy and Vicarstown and the Northern section to Lowtown.

http://www.kildare.ie/CountyCouncil/AllServices/Planning/PublicRealm/BarrowBlueway/

The finished section was opened and if getting it's own mobile coffee shop is a good indicator of success it must be going well

https://www.instagram.com/theriverfield/

I was down to Lowtown yesterday, works are ongoing there, they only have to patch in some short sections to join it to the section from Lock 20, most of the banks are tarmac L roads down there, it'll be completed shortly enough I imagine, then they'll be starting to work towards Rathangan.

I ventured down the canal bank between Rathangan and Monasterevin on the bike the weekend before last, even after a decent dry spell it was really rough going and almost impassable in places, it really brought home the value of the blueway. I was between Athy and Carlow too but that's a discussion for another day.

veryangryman wrote: »

Does the Mullingar end of the greenway intercept the Old Rail trail on the Mullingar to Athlone line? Wouldnt mind trying a long spin to Maynooth and attempt to outrun the authorities in same spin

Yes meets the Old Rail trail in Mullingar so from Mullingar you can reach Maynooth/Longford/Athlone without being 'on-road' (So to speak, many of the canal sections are very quiet rural roads)

loyatemu wrote: »

from the leaflet for the RC Greenway:

Leaflet gets the name of the railway company wrong and Is Moate one of the restored station houses?

Del.Monte wrote: »

Leaflet gets the name of the railway company wrong and Is Moate one of the restored station houses?

The Achill greenway 'morketing' dept confuses the Irish MGWR with the English GWR.

Stick in a pic of 800 in Cultra as well, it looks lovely, shur it'll do.

If there was an Irish historical or sporting figure confused with an English one there would be outrage and letters to the local paper.

https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/munster/arid-40253078.html

Delay to the Midleton Youghal Greenway.
I thought that work had been continuing here.

questionmark? wrote: »

I can confirm there has been continued activity on that route so unsure exactly what the delay is. Maybe reduced numbers on site although makes not much sense considering the size of the area works are in and that it's infrastructure.

Cheers ??
The Examiner article references possibly early openings of sections. - I would have thought that was a given. Surely our other Greenways have opened up as sections have completed?

Del.Monte wrote: »

Just heard a radio Ad for the Ballynahinch Castle Hotel which included the Connemara Greenway as an attraction in the area. Even had a the sound of a bicycle bell in the Ad.

Given that the Greenway is still at the planning stage I was a little surprised but this is Ireland so I suppose I shouldn't have been.

the section near that hotel is open though

There is also a cycle lane adjacent to the road most of the way between there and Clifden. I don't know if that is part of the Connemara Greenway or if they also intend creating a greenway along the former rail line.

Del.Monte wrote: »

Just heard a radio Ad for the Ballynahinch Castle Hotel which included the Connemara Greenway as an attraction in the area. Even had a the sound of a bicycle bell in the Ad.

Given that the Greenway is still at the planning stage I was a little surprised but this is Ireland so I suppose I shouldn't have been. An online search produced this: http://connemaragreenway.ie complete with the usual lazy typos and waffle.

The Irony here is that they(Denis O Briens management team) did NOT allow the Greenway to run through the Castle Grounds on the OLD Clifden Railway itself(it would have been just inside the Front Wall of the estate; a good distance from the Castle itself)
Means Greenway has to cross the R341 road here
https://goo.gl/maps/MtrMhi88vEQniVpe9
and
here
https://goo.gl/maps/vXsnrictStvUJDei6

questionmark? wrote: »

I can confirm there has been continued activity on that route so unsure exactly what the delay is. Maybe reduced numbers on site although makes not much sense considering the size of the area works are in and that it's infrastructure.

Same go slow by workers on the GST, with any luck they might finish by Xmas at this rate!
Funny how they can resurface a full size road and have it reopened in jig time.

It's now hoped the long-awaited opening of the next section of the cycleway in Athlone will happen by the beginning of August, after construction work on it resumed recently.

The 1.1km cycleway stretch from the White Gates (Ballymahon Road) to Athlone Marina is being developed by local company PD Contractors.

It was initially scheduled for completion by May, however the work had only been underway for a short period when it had to stop in January due to the public health restrictions.

Full Story at westmeathindependent.ie

Latest update on the Barrow Blueway from Kildare County Council

https://kildare.ie/CountyCouncil/AllServices/Planning/PublicRealm/BarrowBlueway/Barrow%20Blueway%20Progress%20Update%201442021.docx

Some good pictures of the works in progress in there.

I'm a little surprised it will take till early Q4 for works to be complete to Rathangan, most of the towpath from Glenaree is in quite decent condition compared to further south and shouldn't to my non engineer eyes take much mere than renewing the surface layers and making sure the drainage is right.

The southern section seems to be a big success with two new cafes open in Vicarstown and a mobile cafe at Milltown bridge.

Seth Brundle wrote: »

From a technical perspective, what prat within the councils believes that providing updates in MS Word format is acceptable?

It was the references to chainage that got me TBH, agree on the MS word issue too though.

Athlone Greenway after the castle is going to be interesting the route it takes.

So we'd cross the bridge and take a left to follow the walkway under the town bridge. Once at the Castle.... would one continue on towards Shannon Weir or up the medieval Connacht Street?

Have to say the Roscommon route is going to be awkard AF to negotiate

marno21 wrote: »

Tender out for design/planning for a proposed 75km greenway from Sligo to Enniskillen via the Sligo, Leitrim & Northern Counties Railway

https://irl.eu-supply.com/ctm/Supplier/PublicPurchase/187439/0/0?returnUrl=ctm/Supplier/PublicTenders&b=ETENDERS_SIMPLE

Will this be the longest section of Greenway gone to tender in Ireland so far?