A disused railway line between Tuam and Kilbannon should be converted into a Greenway for north Galway, encompassing walking and cycling routes.
This is according to Independent Tuam ward candidate Karey McHugh, who said accessing funding for the Greenway would be a chief priority for her, if elected to the Galway County Council.
Ms McHugh said the Greenway could provided a safe stretch away from traffic for walkers, runners, and cyclists to “commute, exercise and enjoy”.
The long-term plan is to link up different Greenway projects to form a national network and this would provide further benefits for Tuam, with opportunities for tourism and local businesses.
However the Minister for Transport, Leo Varadker, said that in light of current economic circumstances, funding to reopen old rail lines may “not be viable”. Despite this, Greenways are part of the National Tourism Policy and 38 applications have been made by different councils around the country for funding for their particular Greenway projects.
In light of this, Ms McHugh is calling on the Galway County Council to put any available funding for Tuam “on the top of their agenda”.
“The Tuam Greenway Committee have been working for three years to make an application for funding,” she said, “but without the backing of the council an application cannot be made.”
