Greenway gets EU Excellence Award

Greenway gets EU Excellence Award


Áine Ryan

MAYO‘S Great Western Greenway from Newport to Mulranny is the Irish winner of this year’s European Destination of Excellence (EDEN). The prestigious award, announced last week by FΡilte Ireland, was allocated after Mulranny Tourism Committee made an application on February 24 last to participate in the EU wide competition, which is designed to encourage and promote a more sustainable form of tourism development.
Welcoming the announcement, Minister of State for Tourism and Transport, Michael Ring told The Mayo News yesterday that this was ‘a superb win for the area from Westport to Newport, Mulranny and Achill‘.
“This is just the beginning of good news for tourism in Mayo,” Minister Ring said.
He continued: “The Great Western Greenway is a perfect example of the type of innovative project which this country needs for a sustained economic recovery. This project, which has crucially involved the local community in its development, is now generating extra visitors, revenues and jobs for County Mayo. 
“This new use of the former Newport to Mulranny railway line shows us the way forward for tourism and is a classic example of taking an underused local asset, looking at it in a new way and exploiting its full potential for the betterment of the local community and economy. I would like to commend all those involved in the project - they have set an example for other parts of the country to emulate. I am looking forward to officially opening a major extension of the Greenway in the next few weeks.”
Speaking also, Mr Sean Carolan, of Mulranny Tourism Committee said: “This award recognizes the wonderful commitment and work of the community, landowners and the State agencies who have supported this project. We look forward to the opening of the links to Achill and from Westport to Newport during June. This will ensure that tourists can arrive in Westport by train and experiences the entire area and all its beauty on bicycles.”

Greenway extensions
THE Great Western Greenway opened in Summer 2010 and is a 17.5 kilometre off-road trail that links Newport and Mulranny, Co Mayo by following the track of the famous Newport to Mulranny railway line which closed in 1937. Its development has been made possible with the agreement of local landowners who have allowed permissive access to users by passing through their lands. 
In recognition of its tourism potential, FΡilte Ireland has invested €160,000 to date in developing the Greenway. In 2010 FΡilte Ireland allocated a further €1.6m for a 24km extension, from Mulranny to Achill Sound on the northern end, and from Newport to Westport on the southern end of the current route. The new sections are due to open in June 2011 and will provide a further significant boost to local tourism. Significant funding has also been invested by Mayo County Council and the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.