Sun shines on Achill for official opening of Greenway extension

The sun shone on Achill Island this morning to welcome the Minister of State, Jack Chambers who performed the official opening of a new 5km stretch of Greenway.

The official opening of the new 5km extension of the Great Western Greenway from Achill Sound to Cashel was carried out by Minister of State Chambers alongside Leas Cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council, Cllr Martin McLoughlin.

This extension of the Great Western Greenway sees an additional 5km added to the existing 44km length of the greenway, which now links Westport to Cashel on Achill Island and will further enhance the tourism offering in Mayo.

One of the unique highlights of the new Greenway is the 400m boardwalk over blanket bog in Saula which is the widest greenway boardwalk currently in use in the state and was constructed using sustainable and environmentally friendly products. Another feature is the use of decommissioned blades from wind turbines which are used as outdoor furniture along the Greenway.

The project was managed by and constructed by Mayo County Council’s Engineering and Outdoor staff and contractors. It also saw the cooperation of 25 landowners and 90 commonage shareholders with Mayo County Council to bring the project to fruition.

Funding of €4 million was allocated towards the extension of the Greenway into Achill Island by the Department of Transport and Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Jack Chambers said he was delighted to come to Achill to perform the official opening.

“The opening of this 5km extension means that the Great Western Greenway will now extend into Achill Island. The Great Western Greenway has enjoyed tremendous success since its opening in 2011 attracting significant numbers of visitors to this part of County Mayo.

“Approximately €4 million has been spent to date by the Department of Transport in relation to the construction of this extension to Cashel. Work is underway to continue this extension by another 4km providing an almost fully segregated cycleway from Westport to Keel, I look forward to its completion in due course,” he said.

Local councillor Paul McNamara thanked Minister Chambers and former Minister Michael Ring for allocating funding for Greenway projects in Achill and stated that the new Greenway and other projects in Achill showed what can be achieved when funding is made available.

The delivery of Greenways across the country is part of the remit of Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) and this project was the first Greenway in the county to be opened having been overseen by TII.

Western Region Manager for TII Kieran Kelly said he was delighted to be in Achill for the official opening and looked forward to the extension of the Greenway further into Achill and the Belclare to Murrisk Greenway in Westport.

“The Great Western Greenway lit the spark that allowed so many other regions throughout the country to see the benefits of Greenway projects. TII and Mayo County Council worked collaboratively on delivering this 5km Greenway extension to Achill Island, adding to the existing 44km of the Great Western Greenway. TII looks forward to working with Mayo County Council on future projects,” he said.

Joanne Grehan, Deputy Chief Executive of Mayo County Council said that Mayo County Council has once again shown why it is the leader when it comes to the provision of tourism infrastructure with his new extension of the Great Western Greenway to Cashel.

“I would also like to acknowledge the Mayo County Council staff across several sections who nurtured this Greenway extension from its inception to completion. It was also delivered thanks to our funding partners Transport Infrastructure Ireland, the Department of Rural and Community Development and the other partner agencies who assisted with this project,” she said.

Leas Cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council, Cllr McLoughlin said the Great Western Greenway has been one of the most important projects that Mayo County Council have invested in over the past half a century.

“We have seen the greenway grow from an acorn of an idea to the blossoming piece of tourism infrastructure it has become today. Not only does it attract thousands of visitors a year to the county, it has seen towns and villages along the route thrive and brought vital employment to there and this extension will only increase this.”