The future of the Connemara Greenway will be decided this month when a decision is made on whether or not to provide funding for the proposed walking and cycling route.
The Galway County Council is seeking to develop the route along the disused Clifden to Galway railway line. It has submitted two applications under the National Cycle Network funding 2014-2016. These relate to two proposed cycleways from Galway to Moycullen and Clifden to Letterfrack.
The first proposal would be expected to form part of a route linking Galway to Clifden. The second proposal would be an extension of that route, incorporating the planned Connemara Greenway.
Minister of State at the Department of Transport Alan Kelly has told Galway West TD Brian Walsh that a decision would be made in relation to the proposals in the coming weeks.
“The Great Western Greenway in Mayo has been a massive success and has attracted thousands of tourists,” said Dep Walsh. “There is no reason that success cannot be emulated and surpassed by the Connemara Greenway.”
The Galway TD has also been in contact with the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Leo Varadkar, to make him “abundantly aware of the potential and the importance of this project”.