Greenways [greenway map of Ireland in post 1]

Pete_Cavan · 03-06-2020 7:18am

Markcheese wrote: »

I've seen paths done with tar and chip on a well compacted surface ,they're visually a lot less jarring than tarmac (in a rural setting ) ,would be fine for buggies ,wheelchairs and bikes , mightnt suit very skinny tyres though ,
Kind of a halfway house , cheaper than tarmac ,more stable than compacted quarry dust....and feels more "rural" too ðŸ˜

Yes tar and chip is adequate, that's why I talked about bound v unbound surfaces.

John Hutton · 03-06-2020 4:48pm

Folks, anyone know if the path between Navan and Slane along the river suitable for bikes? 28 wheels touring bike

John Hutton · 03-06-2020 4:54pm

John Hutton wrote: »

Folks, anyone know if the path between Navan and Slane along the river suitable for bikes? 28 wheels touring bike

I should say I think it doesn't go all the way to Slane but there is a path

Stops at Stackallen bridge I think

riddlinrussell · 04-06-2020 12:27pm

https://www.independent.ie/life/travel/ireland/top-10-family-cycles-in-ireland-where-you-dont-have-to-worry-about-traffic-39237687.html

Good article for covering a lot of the existing greenways, a little poorly researched saying that the Great Western is the oldest, forgetting the Great Southern and the Royal Canal (Although given its length I suppose it doesn't fit their 'family day out' vibe...)

Grassey · 05-06-2020 7:37am

Can't remember where I saw details online last week, but...

last year there was a grant of €92,000, for Longwood to Ribbontail walk to Royal Canal Greenway, and construction of greenway to Longwood.

This was apparently completed last week here
https://maps.app.goo.gl/pdxNeP52roKVfxm98

Zubeneschamali · 05-06-2020 10:06am

There is a barge in Athlone drilling for a ground survey for the new bridge over the Shannon for the green way.

whisky_galore · 05-06-2020 12:10pm

riddlinrussell wrote: »

https://www.independent.ie/life/travel/ireland/top-10-family-cycles-in-ireland-where-you-dont-have-to-worry-about-traffic-39237687.html

Good article for covering a lot of the existing greenways, a little poorly researched saying that the Great Western is the oldest, forgetting the Great Southern and the Royal Canal (Although given its length I suppose it doesn't fit their 'family day out' vibe...)

The Blackrock (Cork) walkway is probably the oldest purpose built one. There since the 70s or 80s long before they became sexy and called greenways.

marno21 · 05-06-2020 3:07pm

Some new information about the proposed 72km Sligo Leitrim and Northern Counties Railway greenway.

https://www.leitrimobserver.ie/news/local-news/548188/push-for-funding-to-secure-completion-of-slncr-greenway-project-is-vital-for-region.html

whisky_galore · 08-06-2020 11:21am

EndaHonesty wrote: »

The Great Southern Trail was/is the first "greenway".
Work was started on it in 1988 by local volunteers.

According to Wikipedia the Blackrock walkway wasn't worked on until "the late 1990s"

Cork county council created a public footpath from Hop Island to the outskirts of Passage in 1970, the scheme was extended by a government grant in 1984 for construction on an amenity walk from the Marina to Douglas estuary viaduct.

Wikipedia is not the fount of all knowledge.

EndaHonesty · 08-06-2020 12:02pm

whisky_galore wrote: »

Cork county council created a public footpath from Hop Island to the outskirts of Passage in 1970, the scheme was extended by a government grant in 1984 for construction on an amenity walk from the Marina to Douglas estuary viaduct.

Wikipedia is not the fount of all knowledge.

Yes, it's a footpath, not a purpose built greenway as you claimed.

The Great Southern Trail was/is the first purpose built greenway in Ireland.

whisky_galore · 08-06-2020 12:35pm

EndaHonesty wrote: »

Yes, it's a footpath, not a purpose built greenway as you claimed.

The Great Southern Trail was/is the first purpose built greenway in Ireland.

Neither were even called that back then. The term greenway didn't even exist. Footpath, trail, walkway whatever.

EndaHonesty · 08-06-2020 12:56pm

whisky_galore wrote: »

Neither were even called that back then. The term greenway didn't even exist. Footpath, trail, walkway whatever.

The Great Southern trail was created by volunteers for the greater good.
Their work has inspired all of the subsequent greenways.

I think it's important those people get the recognition they deserve.

12-06-2020 6:05pm

Baldoyle to Portmarnock greenway opened

Only 1.8km but every little helps

https://www.irishbuildingmagazine.ie/2020/06/12/e2-5m-baldoyle-to-portmarnock-greenway-opened/

antimatterx · 14-06-2020 11:35pm

Deleted User wrote: »

Baldoyle to Portmarnock greenway opened

Only 1.8km but every little helps

https://www.irishbuildingmagazine.ie/2020/06/12/e2-5m-baldoyle-to-portmarnock-greenway-opened/

This literally cost 2m to build. The development was a ****show.

magicbastarder · 14-06-2020 11:39pm

this literally cost as much as five or six - or maybe even eight - houses to build. it's a scandal.

antimatterx · 15-06-2020 12:02am

magicbastarder wrote: »

this literally cost as much as five or six - or maybe even eight - houses to build. it's a scandal.

And they ruined the racecourse. It felt like you were in the country, now it's so busy. I hate fingal County council.

The new Co opted councilors are useless.

John Hutton · 15-06-2020 12:08am

That bit of greenway is a godsend. That stretch of road is one of the scariest I had to cycle on a regular basis, constant close overtakes at high speed.

I no longer live in the area and am very resentful it wasn't completed before I moved!!

serfboard · 15-06-2020 5:06pm

antimatterx wrote: »

This literally cost 2m to build.

Whenever I hear a figure like that, for what seems like a small amount of road or Greenway, I wonder what could have led to it.

Often, of course, there's a lot more going on then just "shlappin' a bit o' concrete" down.

In this project, you can see that there's a fair amount of pipe-laying happening too.

JohnC. · 15-06-2020 7:42pm

As someone posted in the Waterford forum, work is starting on the Kilmeaden link on the Waterford Greenway

https://twitter.com/Briankenny9/status/1272469397416955904

spacetweek · 15-06-2020 11:09pm

magicbastarder wrote: »

this literally cost as much as five or six - or maybe even eight - houses to build. it's a scandal.

How is that a scandal?

antimatterx wrote: »

And they ruined the racecourse. It felt like you were in the country, now it's so busy. I hate fingal County council.

The new Co opted councilors are useless.

Very cranky altogether. I'm sure the occasional cyclist going along it isn't making it feel "so busy".

Zubeneschamali · 16-06-2020 8:26am

Work has restarted on the Old Railway trail in Athlone, final mile or so the Shannon.

MJohnston · 16-06-2020 9:30am

It seems like there are enough cheese towns connected to, or with the potential to connect to, greenways that they could make a branded cheese cycling tour :pac:

Markcheese · 16-06-2020 9:37am

MJohnston wrote: »

It seems like there are enough cheese towns connected to, or with the potential to connect to, greenways that they could make a branded cheese cycling tour :pac:

Mogeely coming soon ... ( Has 2 cheese factories),

CatInABox · 16-06-2020 10:59am

MJohnston wrote: »

It seems like there are enough cheese towns connected to, or with the potential to connect to, greenways that they could make a branded cheese cycling tour :pac:

If there's any distilleries around there, then we could have an Irish Greenway version of the Bordeaux marathon, 26 miles, 23 glasses of wine, loads of cheese.

whisky_galore · 17-06-2020 10:09am

CatInABox wrote: »

If there's any distilleries around there, then we could have an Irish Greenway version of the Bordeaux marathon, 26 miles, 23 glasses of wine, loads of cheese.

Not to mind that cycling drunk is actually illegal here.

CatInABox · 17-06-2020 10:35am

whisky_galore wrote: »

Not to mind that cycling drunk is actually illegal here.

You can walk/run on greenways too, and legally while drunk. Although, 23 glasses of whiskey is probably a bit too much, even if it's spaced over 6/7 hours.

Harry Palmr · 17-06-2020 10:39am

James May and Oz Clarke cycle Ireland, I can't wait!

Markcheese · 17-06-2020 11:38am

Include a few micro breweries .... Start at either cobh or crosshaven heading for youghal .. ( cork cc have a plan for cork city to carrigtohil ) might have to wait a bit for carrigtohil to midleton ,
There's no shortage of small breweries in cork city , distillery in midleton ,think there's a brewery in youghal , matched with carrigaline cheese . Hegartys cheese (6 miles from city but hey ).. ardsallagh in carrigtohil ,balinrostig (near midleton ) , mogeely (cheese factory is on the line ) , might have to include a few fermoy cheeses for youghal but it'd be a grand day trip ... Probably wouldn't set any speed records though ....

Markcheese · 17-06-2020 11:51am

It's only about 60 km ,from crosshaven to youghal ,
If they ever get round to connecting youghal to dungarvan ,it could be a proper cycle and a proper piss up ... The Carnage arriving in Waterford after a drink every 10 or 15 miles...

Tigerandahalf · 17-06-2020 11:58am

I see there is mention in the new programme for government for a walking route between Malin Head in Donegal and Kinsale in Cork. I presume this will use the existing greenway routes, the Western Way route and some of the new greenway routes to be developed.

I would think a lot of the quiet country roads would be used for the rest of it. It is not a bad idea.

This would probably be more targeted at individual walkers/groups rather than families.
The potential for a walking route around the entire country looks possible.

17-06-2020 1:23pm

Tigerandahalf wrote: »

I would think a lot of the quiet country roads would be used for the rest of it. It is not a bad idea.

While those roads may have lower traffic levels they are lethal to walk or cycle on with the way many locals drive on them

Tigerandahalf · 17-06-2020 3:50pm

[Deleted User] wrote: »

While those roads may have lower traffic levels they are lethal to walk or cycle on with the way many locals drive on them

Ya fair point. Though I don't think there is an alternative to the country roads in some areas where there is no train line present. Doubtful that they will acquire land as it is expensive.

On another note the cost of the Cahersiveen greenway has raised worries over the long term costs of future greenways. There was an article in one of the papers that stated paying farmers to acquire the land (that was originally in the hands of the CIE) plus engineering challenges has increased the cost significantly.

Saying that this greenway is meant to be the blueprint in terms of trail surface, junctions, crossings etc so it will probably need little extra to be done to it once it has opened.

There are still works ongoing on the Mayo Greenway and road crossings to be dealt with.

EndaHonesty · 17-06-2020 3:58pm

Tigerandahalf wrote: »

Ya fair point. Though I don't think there is an alternative to the country roads in some areas where there is no train line present. Doubtful that they will acquire land as it is expensive.

On another note the cost of the Cahersiveen greenway has raised worries over the long term costs of future greenways. There was an article in one of the papers that stated paying farmers to acquire the land (that was originally in the hands of the CIE) plus engineering challenges has increased the cost significantly.

Saying that this greenway is meant to be the blueprint in terms of trail surface, junctions, crossings etc so it will probably need little extra to be done to it once it has opened.

There are still works ongoing on the Mayo Greenway and road crossings to be dealt with.

The Barnagh tunnel extension on the Great Southern Greenway cost almost 1 million for a 1km dead-end.

Approx 20 million for a brand new 32km greenway is still great value, and it will never be cheaper than now to build...

whisky_galore · 19-06-2020 12:39pm

EndaHonesty wrote: »

The Barnagh tunnel extension on the Great Southern Greenway cost almost 1 million for a 1km dead-end.

Approx 20 million for a brand new 32km greenway is still great value, and it will never be cheaper than now to build...

Council defends ineptitude. 4.7m now over 20 million. Bargain.

https://www.radiokerry.ie/council-defends-escalating-costs-proposed-south-kerry-greenway/

magicbastarder · 19-06-2020 12:43pm

New 128km Irish greenway through three counties just given green light
A significant new greenway through the west of the Republic has been given the green light after being included in a major new economic plan to develop the north west region.

The 128km Athenry to Sligo Greenway, which is also known as the ‘Western Rail Trail’, takes in counties Galway, Mayo and Sligo.
http://www.stickybottle.com/latest-news/irish-greenway-through-three-counties-gets-green-light/

Sligo eye · 19-06-2020 3:48pm

magicbastarder wrote: »

New 128km Irish greenway through three counties just given green light
A significant new greenway through the west of the Republic has been given the green light after being included in a major new economic plan to develop the north west region.

The 128km Athenry to Sligo Greenway, which is also known as the ‘Western Rail Trail’, takes in counties Galway, Mayo and Sligo.
http://www.stickybottle.com/latest-news/irish-greenway-through-three-counties-gets-green-light/

Not quite. If you actually read the document there are specific policy objectives in support of the railway;

See RPO 6.13 of the strategy;

(A) “It shall be an objective to deliver the Athenry-Tuam-Claremorris-Sligo rail to an appropriate level of service and to a standard capable of facilitating passenger and freight transport”
(B) “It shall be an objective to progress through pre-appraisal and early planning the extension of the railway from Athenry-Tuam-Claremorris-Sligo”

And RPO 6.16:

“Investigate the feasibility of extending the rail network to the North West City Region (Letterkenny/Derry/Strabane) from Sligo and Dublin”

So in fact greenways cannot be located on any part of the Western Rail Corridor, despite the misleading claims made by Ciaran Cannon yesterday. That doesn’t mean the so-called Quiet Man Greenway can’t happen, it has to be on an alternative route, well away from the operational railway...

Tigerandahalf · 19-06-2020 5:36pm

I can't see any railways being extended unless outside money comes in for them from Europe.
The greenways are being backed by Europe as some of them form part of the Eurovelo routes plus they would benefit from rural development grants.

Interesting that a greenway route around the north west coast of Mayo is on a EuroVelo route and so is likely to happen.

Sligo eye · 19-06-2020 5:41pm

Tigerandahalf wrote: »

I can't see any railways being extended unless outside money comes in for them from Europe.
The greenways are being backed by Europe as some of them form part of the Eurovelo routes plus they would benefit from rural development grants.

Interesting that a greenway route around the north west coast of Mayo is on a EuroVelo route and so is likely to happen.

Of course Ciaran Cannon put a stop to a EuroVelo route from Athlone to Galway as he was more interested in protecting Land Owners than giving cyclists a decent route across the country.

19-06-2020 5:47pm

Sligo eye wrote: »

Of course Ciaran Cannon put a stop to a EuroVelo route from Athlone to Galway as he was more interested in protecting Land Owners than giving cyclists a decent route across the country.

You mean the Euro Velo route that has been constructed as far as Athlone, is being extended across the Shannon and which the remaining section to Galway is undergoing design at the moment with public consultations due to start in 2021?

That Euro velo route?

19-06-2020 5:48pm

Sligo eye wrote: »

Not quite. If you actually read the document there are specific policy objectives in support of the railway;

See RPO 6.13 of the strategy;

(A) “It shall be an objective to deliver the Athenry-Tuam-Claremorris-Sligo rail to an appropriate level of service and to a standard capable of facilitating passenger and freight transport”
(B) “It shall be an objective to progress through pre-appraisal and early planning the extension of the railway from Athenry-Tuam-Claremorris-Sligo”

And RPO 6.16:

“Investigate the feasibility of extending the rail network to the North West City Region (Letterkenny/Derry/Strabane) from Sligo and Dublin”

So in fact greenways cannot be located on any part of the Western Rail Corridor, despite the misleading claims made by Ciaran Cannon yesterday. That doesn’t mean the so-called Quiet Man Greenway can’t happen, it has to be on an alternative route, well away from the operational railway...

You left out a lot of important information but rather than make you look silly on 2 threads might I suggest we continue this on the WRT thread on the C&T forum.

Sam Russell · 19-06-2020 6:18pm

Mod: I think that is a YES.

The Western Rail Corridor is not part of this thread. Please confine rail discussion to the other thread.

Regards

Pete_Cavan · 19-06-2020 10:32pm

Hopefully the Greens will push through the greenway here and have it made actual policy rather than the standoff we have had for many years. Over the next couple of years we will have delivered some high quality, long distance greenways (Dublin to Athlone/Longford, Dungarvan - Rosslare, Rathkeale - Listowel) and it would be great to add Athenry - Sligo to that. There are obviously other sections around the country which will hopefully all be tied together into a proper network which traverses the country.

Greaney · 19-06-2020 11:21pm

Deleted User wrote: »

You mean the Euro Velo route that has been constructed as far as Athlone, is being extended across the Shannon and which the remaining section to Galway is undergoing design at the moment with public consultations due to start in 2021?

That Euro velo route?

Yes

The thing now is.... the route is not in stone. Will it go through Loughrea? Athenry? Craughwell? Oranmore??? I guess it'd be easier if it was on a former railway line, but this way, communities may have to really engage in the process and explore and network through the options... or rather, develop options to begin with

20-06-2020 7:25am

Greaney wrote: »

Yes

The thing now is.... the route is not in stone. Will it go through Loughrea? Athenry? Craughwell? Oranmore??? I guess it'd be easier if it was on a former railway line, but this way, communities may have to really engage in the process and explore and network through the options... or rather, develop options to begin with

As opposed to doing what?

Pete_Cavan · 20-06-2020 8:10am

Greaney wrote: »

Yes

The thing now is.... the route is not in stone. Will it go through Loughrea? Athenry? Craughwell? Oranmore??? I guess it'd be easier if it was on a former railway line, but this way, communities may have to really engage in the process and explore and network through the options... or rather, develop options to begin with

There was a report that highlighted a route via Loughrea and a former canal branch there as a good route for Athlone - Galway. Not sure if was ever made an official route. I'll look for the report later.

Greaney · 20-06-2020 11:45am

Deleted User wrote: »

As opposed to doing what?

As opposed to

1) Sitting back and waiting for the politicians & civil servants to draw lines on a map, and then knocking their decisions

2) Getting whipped up over the first route that is presented without examining it.

Greaney · 20-06-2020 11:50am

Pete_Cavan wrote: »

There was a report that highlighted a route via Loughrea and a former canal branch there as a good route for Athlone - Galway. Not sure if was ever made an official route. I'll look for the report later.

That'd be great. Yes, I was aware of the route up until Loughrea, but I think there were two choices after that, one to Craughwell, I can't remember the other.

If I were from Loughrea, I would be livid with the local TD who set back the plan without facilitating the Public Participation more fully.

Seth Brundle · 21-06-2020 9:22am

https://twitter.com/CitizenW0lf/status/1274284067748544517?s=19

Caquas · 21-06-2020 9:33am

Seth Brundle wrote: »

https://twitter.com/CitizenW0lf/status/1274284067748544517?s=19

Says as much about the makers of the video as it does about the car owner.

The clip lasts about four seconds and the car is in the centre of the shot for the duration, clearly blocking the greenway. Was this edited by a robot or was someone trying to make a point?

roadmaster · 21-06-2020 4:50pm

Talking to some friends yesterday apparently the kingscourt to navan greenway has started with a 2 km section complete in nobber county meath on the old rail line

Greenways [greenway map of Ireland in post 1]

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