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Western Rail Corridor / Rail Trail

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  • Registered Users Posts: 33,650 ✭✭✭✭Hotblack Desiato
    Restaurant at the End of the Universe


    jmlfc wrote: »
    Who will look after the anti social behaviour along this greenway and dogs sh1te, Because that is sure to evolve as time goes on, children and teenagers. They'll discourage people from using the greenway, well the tourists will be well disgusted, some stretches will be ok, but those along side villages will be filled with torment

    Yes let's not build anything anywhere because teenagers.

    Well constructed argument :rolleyes:

    It took a while but I don't mind. How does my body look in this light?



  • Registered Users Posts: 49 jmlfc


    Obviously don't live in a town or village on the WRC
    Hardly an argument at this stage, sure for the last five years people have been saying the greenway will be built next year and the next year and the next year and the next year 😴


  • Registered Users Posts: 5,796 ✭✭✭Isambard


    well I've experience of the one in Dungarvan and it seems to me to be full of cyclists and pedestrians , none of whom are behaving antisocially. Sounds like scaremongering to me.


  • Registered Users Posts: 4,282 ✭✭✭westtip


    Del.Monte wrote: »
    Interesting photograph included in this upbeat piece about the Velorail project: http://www.con-telegraph.ie/news/roundup/articles/2017/12/13/4149722-completion-of-velo-rail-project-in-kiltimagh-is-on-course/ as there's not a concrete sleeper to be seen between Claremorris and Collooney.

    I'm looking forward to my first trip on the Velorail. :D

    I have heard they are having a few planning issues, in the sense they never applied for planning permission for the project and the whole thing was going through on a nod and wink to Minister Ring basis, "sure will ye give us a quick €300,000 Euro there Michael and we will start the project and not finish it and come back for more, oh and by the way Michael, don]t ya know we have no planning permission for all this, and there has been no public consultation, sure what the hell lets get the money spent Michael, sure doesn't money buy votes now sure no one will send it off to An Bord Pleanala for investigation!".....Oh dear still waiting on that last one!


  • Registered Users Posts: 4,282 ✭✭✭westtip


    eastwest wrote: »
    Does Mr flynn not get it? An Taoiseach was pointing out that any infrastructure funding on that route will go into the N17. Apart from making the most sense, this is what most people want.
    Nobody is going to rebuild a victorian railway that nobodyy was using. When will that sink in with the few remaining diehards?

    No he doesn't get it and probably never will there is a cohort of diehards in particular in parts of Mayo that see the Western Rail Corridor now as a battleground for what defines investment in the west. Such a pity as the west actually has such a lot going for it. Technology has moved everyone closer to the digital economy; developing the connectivity to the digital cable that landed in Killala a couple of years back is more important than the closed railway. Building tourism infrastructure like the Western Rail Trail is more important and yes the N17 is critical. What the article in the Mayo News ignored was the that the N17 was not excluded from TEN-T, and they failed to point out what Varadakar said about the Western Rail Corridor just a few months back
    “The commitment on the western rail corridor in the programme for Government is not to build or complete it but to carry out such an appraisal of a benefit to cost ratio. The last time it was done it came out negatively at a cost of 100 against six - 100 being the cost and six the benefit. Most rail projects come out around 100 to 80.” (Leo Varadkar in the Dail on Wednesday February 14th 2018)

    The diehards will continue to stop the Western Rail Trail as much as they can but it will happen, it may take ten more years but it will happen.


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  • Posts: 0 Jon Green Geese


    Quiet man Greenway’ route ticks all the boxes of new strategy

    http://www.tuamherald.ie/news/roundup/articles/2018/07/25/4159257-quiet-man-greenway-route-ticks-all-the-boxes-of-new-strategy/

    Have to be honest, I detest that name. The movie came out nearly 70 years ago ffs


  • Registered Users Posts: 4,663 ✭✭✭serfboard


    Have to be honest, I detest that name. The movie came out nearly 70 years ago ffs
    Agree - and it's inaccurate anyway - apart from Ballyglunin Station what other locations on this Greenway have a connection to the film?

    A Greenway through Cong would have more of a claim on this name.


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,610 ✭✭✭eastwest


    Quiet man Greenway’ route ticks all the boxes of new strategy

    http://www.tuamherald.ie/news/roundup/articles/2018/07/25/4159257-quiet-man-greenway-route-ticks-all-the-boxes-of-new-strategy/

    Have to be honest, I detest that name. The movie came out nearly 70 years ago ffs

    The quiet man brand is as strong as ever -- ask anyone in Cong.
    The best thing about this name is that it is instantly recognisable, and that Failte Ireland will absolutely love it. The latter is very important because apparently they have some kind of veto on funding for greenways.


  • Posts: 0 Jon Green Geese


    eastwest wrote: »
    The quiet man brand is as strong as ever -- ask anyone in Cong.
    The best thing about this name is that it is instantly recognisable, and that Failte Ireland will absolutely love it. The latter is very important because apparently they have some kind of veto on funding for greenways.

    Seriously, nobody outside Ballyglunin or Cong puts any stock in the brand. Those who do have a deficiency of imagination. The quiet man was made in the era of diddly eye crap and only those hoping to squeeze the last drops out of the diddly eye rubbish are interested in seeing it continue.

    Rather, it would be a much smarter move to go the truly historical route which would highlight the many old castles, churches, stations, bridges, towns and villages along the route. That would still allow for the Ballyglunin station to be prominent and be promoted both as part of the whole and as its own entity. Call it "The Historical Greenway"

    Alternatively, go the nature route and highlight and develop natural poi's and encourage development of nature/environmental focused amenities. Glamping, eco-agri sites, village markets, lakes, forests, rivers, fishing etc etc etc. Call it "The Eco Way" or some such

    Can you honestly say that the quiet man brand is more appealing to market for greenways than either of those options.

    Naming the entire route after a movie from 70 years ago because one location featured in 2 scenes for 3 mins. Really???

    Doing so is a disservice to all the locations along the route which have no ties to the brand and severely limits the marketability of the amenity going. Instead of the development potential, it would be hobbled from the start.


  • Registered Users Posts: 5,796 ✭✭✭Isambard


    Seriously, nobody outside Ballyglunin or Cong puts any stock in the brand. Those who do have a deficiency of imagination. The quiet man was made in the era of diddly eye crap and only those hoping to squeeze the last drops out of the diddly eye rubbish are interested in seeing it continue.

    Rather, it would be a much smarter move to go the truly historical route which would highlight the many old castles, churches, stations, bridges, towns and villages along the route. That would still allow for the Ballyglunin station to be prominent and be promoted both as part of the whole and as its own entity. Call it "The Historical Greenway"

    Alternatively, go the nature route and highlight and develop natural poi's and encourage development of nature/environmental focused amenities. Glamping, eco-agri sites, village markets, lakes, forests, rivers, fishing etc etc etc. Call it "The Eco Way" or some such

    Can you honestly say that the quiet man brand is more appealing to market for greenways than either of those options.

    Naming the entire route after a movie from 70 years ago because one location featured in 2 scenes for 3 mins. Really???

    Doing so is a disservice to all the locations along the route which have no ties to the brand and severely limits the marketability of the amenity going. Instead of the development potential, it would be hobbled from the start.
    I suspect you're right, call it the Ballyglunin Trail with a small sub-title of "Quiet Man Country" or similar might be better


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 652 ✭✭✭Muckyboots


    eastwest wrote: »
    The quiet man brand is as strong as ever -- ask anyone in Cong.
    The best thing about this name is that it is instantly recognisable, and that Failte Ireland will absolutely love it. The latter is very important because apparently they have some kind of veto on funding for greenways.

    Seriously, nobody outside Ballyglunin or Cong puts any stock in the brand. Those who do have a deficiency of imagination. The quiet man was made in the era of diddly eye crap and only those hoping to squeeze the last drops out of the diddly eye rubbish are interested in seeing it continue.

    Rather, it would be a much smarter move to go the truly historical route which would highlight the many old castles, churches, stations, bridges, towns and villages along the route. That would still allow for the Ballyglunin station to be prominent and be promoted both as part of the whole and as its own entity. Call it "The Historical Greenway"

    Alternatively, go the nature route and highlight and develop natural poi's and encourage development of nature/environmental focused amenities. Glamping, eco-agri sites, village markets, lakes, forests, rivers, fishing etc etc etc. Call it "The Eco Way" or some such

    Can you honestly say that the quiet man brand is more appealing to market for greenways than either of those options.

    Naming the entire route after a movie from 70 years ago because one location featured in 2 scenes for 3 mins. Really???

    Doing so is a disservice to all the locations along the route which have no ties to the brand and severely limits the marketability of the amenity going. Instead of the development potential, it would be hobbled from the start.
    Good points. I wouldn't get too hung up on the name though. It's very much a means to an end. It'll be the Athenry-Tuam Greenway when that end finally arrives.


  • Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 22,350 Mod ✭✭✭✭bk


    jmlfc wrote: »
    Who will look after the anti social behaviour along this greenway and dogs sh1te, Because that is sure to evolve as time goes on, children and teenagers. They'll discourage people from using the greenway, well the tourists will be well disgusted, some stretches will be ok, but those along side villages will be filled with torment

    Let me point out what silly nonsense this is. My sister lives very close to the Blackrock to Passage Railway, which is now a Greenway, but isn't called that because it has existed as a "greenway" for well over 20 years, far before the concept of "greenways" was popularised.

    Every time I visit her, I walk this route and it is absolutely jam packed with people of every age from the very youngest to the very oldest. From parents bringing their kids for their first cycle, to people running, to elderly enjoying a stroll.

    The people of the area absolutely love it, organised community walking groups walk it weekly.

    No anti social behaviour and this is very close to the heart of Cork city.


  • Registered Users Posts: 4,282 ✭✭✭westtip


    nice quote from Western Rail Trail campaign in this article in the Indo today
    "The Western Rail Trail campaign groups in Galway, Mayo and Sligo have called for the closed line from Athenry to Collooney to be preserved as a 130km-long greenway route to promote tourism
    They claimed Galway and Mayo County Councils were "missing a trick" now that the National Greenway Strategy has been launched and funds are available."

    https://www.independent.ie/business/small-business/tourism-boost-fails-to-spread-across-country-37162747.html


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,610 ✭✭✭eastwest


    westtip wrote: »
    nice quote from Western Rail Trail campaign in this article in the Indo today

    https://www.independent.ie/business/small-business/tourism-boost-fails-to-spread-across-country-37162747.html

    They'd miss a barn door with a free kick from five yards.


  • Registered Users Posts: 4,282 ✭✭✭westtip


    eastwest wrote: »
    They'd miss a barn door with a free kick from five yards.

    Yes indeed it is now an open goal for Mayo and Galway coco to make submissions on this, you only have to listen to what Failte Ireland had to say about greenways and this new kind of tourism to parts of Ireland that remain totally untouched by tourism in the report on morning ireland last Friday, in case anyone missed and not being afraid to grab a media opportunity the Wesern Rail Trail put out a press release on it, should have been posted up here!
    Press release From: The Western Rail Trail campaign
    July 27th 2018 for immediate release: 743 words (main body text)

    Failte Ireland say “over the next ten years there will be a 4% increase in walking and cycling and water activities from international tourism coming into Ireland”
    • Paddy Mathews of Failte Ireland says on RTE Radio "we have seen the potential that the development of greenways can have for local communities like the Westport Greenway the Waterford Greenway, it really has tremendous economic potential"
    • Are Mayo and Galway county councils scoring an own goal in not seeing potential of Western Rail Trail?
    • Greenway campaign asks Mayo and Galway councillors to listen to RTE podcast to find out the view of Failte Ireland on greenways and think what is possible.

    • Listen to the podcast here https://www.rte.ie/radio1/podcast/podcast_morningireland.xml
    This week RTE Radio 1 has been broadcasting a series of reports by Cian McCormack as he has been cycling around Ireland. The Western Rail Trail campaign an alliance of community-based campaign groups in Galway Mayo and Sligo campaigning to preserve the alignment of the closed rail line from Athenry to Collooney by utilising the route for tourism and leisure as a greenway until such time as a railway may be possible, said this about the reports from Cian McCormack:

    “The reports were very interesting to listen to, there were constant references to greenways and the economic impact they make. The report on Friday 27th July from Edenderry in County Offaly really hit home about what we are trying to achieve with the Western Rail Trail from Sligo to Athenry, to offer a regeneration of the towns along the route. We really believe Galway and Mayo county councils are scoring an own goal in not yet embracing this project in particular now the National Greenway Strategy has been launched and funds are available to create such long distance strategic greenways for the National Cycle/Greenway network.

    We are asking every councillor in Galway and Mayo to listen to the podcast of eight minutes and think what the greenway from Sligo to Athenry would achieve.

    During the report Cian McCormack interviewed John Boyle Waterways Ireland Director of Business Development. This is what John Boyle had to say about the project

    “In the long term the vision is to have a greenway from Grand Canal Dock to Shannon Harbour along the canal. We hope to see a greenway along the whole 131 km route within the next year or year and a half.”

    Mr Boyle added in his interview “One of the aims of Waterways Ireland is to rejuvenate the economies through which the canal flows, we are well aware that many of the parts of rural Ireland have been forgotten, we have seen a massive amount of young people leave the areas to go abroad, this is an attempt to bring tourists in and money back into the economy.”

    Cian McCormack responded to these comments by saying "we are not talking about megabucks we are talking about a trickle of people coming through where no one might have been passing before” to which Mr Boyle responded

    “That is absolutely correct we are not talking about multinational businesses coming here and setting up along the grand canal what we are talking about is a steady increase in the number of tourists coming in and spending their money in the rural local economies, and making step difference and as time goes on that will increase as the numbers of services increase. Recreational tourism has the potential to be massive in Ireland.”

    Mr Boyle of Waterways Ireland added:

    “Failte Ireland say over the next ten years there will be a 4% increase in walking cycling and water activities from international tourism in Ireland, we have to create the infrastructure in order for them to experience that. What tourists are looking for is not just the hustle and bustle, some are, but others are looking for the quietness of say the boglands to see what rural Ireland is really like and there is definitely a tourism product there”

    In the second part of the report Paddy Mathews Head of Irelands Hidden Heartlands at Failte Ireland said this about greenways

    “What tourism needs to develop is the raw material. We heard this morning what John Boyle of Waterways Ireland said, talking about the grand canal greenway. We have seen the potential that the development of greenways can have for local communities like the Westport Greenway the Waterford Greenway, it really has tremendous economic potential"

    A Western Rail Trail Spokesman said today “This report on RTE really rang home for us, it shows how other parts of the country are grasping the opportunity, and yet Mayo County Council which prides itself on the Great Western Greenway will not embrace the Western Rail Trail concept and equally Galway County Council claim they are still waiting for a report into the Western Rail Corridor which successive Transport Ministers including both Leo Varadkar and Paschal Donohoe have stated will not be extended north of Athenry, we know this is the case so why not create a 130 km greenway to protect the route in public ownership forever, we really don’t need any more reports about a railway that is not going to be rebuilt?”


    Contacts: via facebook page
    Find us on Facebook: sligomayogreenwaycampaign


    Link to petition for editors:

    Podcast from RTE:
    https://www.rte.ie/radio1/podcast/podcast_morningireland.xml


    Free to use images here: https://www.sligogreenway.com/media--images.html (please acknowledge Sligo Greenway Co-op as owners)


  • Registered Users Posts: 4,282 ✭✭✭westtip


    This was an interesting article in last weeks Tuam Herald

    http://www.tuamherald.ie/news/roundup/articles/2018/07/25/4159257-quiet-man-greenway-route-ticks-all-the-boxes-of-new-strategy/

    Need to download the paper via their webpage to read it all, but just read what Sean Canney has to say, not a mention of rail reports and the old adage when you are explaining you are losing comes to mind
    Sean Canney in Tuam Herald July 25th:

    “I have always advocated that greenways are a great resource and asset to communities.
    We have had many calls for greenways and some public representatives have been playing politics by issuing statements that money was been spent in other areas and we were losing out in Galway East. This is not true and I have always stated the fact that any application for a greenway study was premature pending the publication of the National Greenway Strategy.
    The time is now right for applications for funding to be advanced by the local authorities. We must ensure that Galway East gets its fair share of this funding”

    Where is the railway study Sean? Or is he now saying Lets go for funding on the Western Rail Trail Galway section?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 652 ✭✭✭Muckyboots


    westtip wrote: »
    Or is he now saying Lets go for funding on the Western Rail Trail Galway section?

    No, he's most definitely not. He's been a very clever boy though in getting you to ask that very question.


  • Moderators, Entertainment Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 14,317 Mod ✭✭✭✭marno21


    Muckyboots wrote: »
    No, he's most definitely not. He's been a very clever boy though in getting you to ask that very question.

    Exactly. Vague political waffle


  • Posts: 0 Jon Green Geese


    He gets to say whatever he wants. His cronies in the Galway co co voted to wait for a report that is never going to come.

    He doesn't have to do anything else. The status quo is being maintained by Galway co co councillors


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,610 ✭✭✭eastwest


    He gets to say whatever he wants. His cronies in the Galway co co  voted to wait for a report that is never going to come.

    He doesn't have to do anything else. The status quo is being maintained by Galway co co councillors
    Perfect summation of Canneyspeak. His single political ambition was to block the greenway and to be seen to deliver a railway at some vague time in the future. He knows that the latter isn't possible, but that doesn't matter -- he can always say that he 'held the line', so to speak as long as the hated greenway project is blocked permanently.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 4,282 ✭✭✭westtip


    Muckyboots wrote: »
    No, he's most definitely not. He's been a very clever boy though in getting you to ask that very question.

    Yes indeed and everyone else who commented but somehow I don't think the people in Tuam will put up with his waffle any longer. From what I have read on FB, and heard from one of the senior politicans from Galway East it seems there will be another motion to Galway coco this September, suggest it is not the same one as before about merely asking for a feasibility but puts the cards on the table and instructs the county management to apply for funding for a greenway on the closed rail route as part of the call for funding from the DTTAS for greenway projects which is due to be issued in October, Sligo will be pitching for business, if Galway does the same, the game is well and truly up. September will be the showdown for cllrs they will be exposed as being pro the greenway or against it, believe me the telephone lines from Claremorris will be applying huge pressure on the 25 galway cllrs who voted kick the can last september to hold the line.

    It will be make or break.


  • Registered Users Posts: 4,663 ✭✭✭serfboard


    westtip wrote: »
    It will be make or break.
    It will not be make or break. To say this is to underestimate the determination of people, businesses and (most) politicians in the Tuam area to see that the ATM (Athenry-Tuam-Milltown) Greenway gets funding.

    The councillors blocking this don't live in the area, so whether there is a Railway or a Greenway doesn't affect them in either way, yet they still get to have their say on it.

    If this is blocked in September, be under no illusions that it will keep being revisited - until it is delivered.


  • Registered Users Posts: 4,282 ✭✭✭westtip


    serfboard wrote: »
    It will not be make or break. .

    Serf slightly misunderstood me there or not made myself very clear, it will be make or break for this round of funding! Yes I agree with you about the rest of what you said the people in Tuam and Athenry are determined to see this happen, and you are right about the other council areas they may stop this from happening. I think if it is held up by the council this time, then what has been created by Tuam Tidy Towns will only be the beginning of what might actually physically happen on the route; but unless the cllrs are stupid they will read the situation and act accordingly.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 652 ✭✭✭Muckyboots


    BREAKING NEWS...http://www.mayonews.ie/comment-opinion/133-comment-opinion/32488-time-for-action-on-western-rail-corridor …….. After 42 years, The Mayo News and a Monseigneur say, "time for action". And so say all of us.


  • Posts: 0 Jon Green Geese


    From that article "The case for the extension of the Western Rail Corridor is a strong one".

    By any logical measure, no it's not, it's a farcically weak one


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,610 ✭✭✭eastwest


    Muckyboots wrote: »
    BREAKING NEWS...http://www.mayonews.ie/comment-opinion/133-comment-opinion/32488-time-for-action-on-western-rail-corridor …….. After 42 years, The Mayo News and a Monseigneur say, "time for action". And so say all of us.

    There exists in some quarters in the west of Ireland an infinite capacity for self-delusion.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 652 ✭✭✭Muckyboots


    eastwest wrote: »
    Muckyboots wrote: »
    BREAKING NEWS...http://www.mayonews.ie/comment-opinion/133-comment-opinion/32488-time-for-action-on-western-rail-corridor …….. After 42 years, The Mayo News and a Monseigneur say, "time for action". And so say all of us.

    There exists in some quarters in the west of Ireland an infinite capacity for self-delusion.
    The 2009 photo of the Monsigor and Minister must be hanging in the editor's office with a flickering red bulb beneath.


  • Registered Users Posts: 5,796 ✭✭✭Isambard


    wot bollox


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 652 ✭✭✭Muckyboots


    Great input from Ciaran Cannon at 38 mins with some nice WRC bants at 1.21 . Sean Canney change his tact?? Oh no he hasn't. But the rail review fuse has finally been lit...… or has it?
    https://galwaybayfm.ie/podcast-keith-finnegan-show-thursday-9th/


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  • Registered Users Posts: 4,282 ✭✭✭westtip


    Muckyboots wrote: »
    Great input from Ciaran Cannon at 38 mins with some nice WRC bants at 1.21 . Sean Canney change his tact?? Oh no he hasn't. But the rail review fuse has finally been lit...… or has it?
    https://galwaybayfm.ie/podcast-keith-finnegan-show-thursday-9th/


    Agreed great piece of work by Ciaran Cannon, but they are going to can kick again and again this is now becoming obvious.


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