Extension of Mayo Greenway to Keel will be an 'amazing project'

An Achill councillor believes the extension of the Greenway through to Keel on Achill Island will be an 'amazing project' and its delivery has to be the 'main drive' in terms of tourism infrastructure.

Achill-based councillor Paul McNamara made the comments at the AGM of Achill Tourism last Thursday where he commented that it was important that the greenway ran from one end of the parish to the other.

Last year, Minister of State Jack Chambers officially opened the 5km extension of the Great Western Greenway from Achill Sound to Cashel which took the greenway onto the island itself. The project also included public realm works through the village of Achill Sound including a dedicated cycleway and walkway.

The Department of Transport has allocated €4 million towards the extension of the greenway onto Achill Island with funding also allocated towards the next phase which will bring it from Cashel to Bunnacurry.

Speaking at the AGM, Cllr McNamara commented that everyone can see how the developments around Achill Sound has transformed the area and is an amazing facility for both tourists and locals.

“To me that was very important that project happened because it meant the Greenway didn't come as far as Achill but it crossed over the bridge and now it has come all the way towards Ted Lavelle's [in Cashel].

“The main drive now is to deliver that Greenway as far as Keel if that is possible. We have funding available to take it down into the Cashel area which Mayo County Council are working on at the moment and hopefully that will progress on. The next part of the Greenway will be from Bunnacurry to Keel and I am lobbying the Minister to try and get funding available for that and I think it will be an amazing project if we get a Greenway from one end of the parish to the other,” he said.

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. Cllr McNamara described the boardwalk as an 'amazing piece of infrastructure' which allows people to walk over the bogs and will transform the area.

Cllr McNamara also commended the work of Achill Tourism in promoting tourism on Achill throughout the world and the vital work they do for the area. He also praised all the tourism providers and people who work in the hospitality sector.

“I acknowledge all the hard work you do in order to keep those businesses afloat and keep promoting the area. I was at a meeting with Minister Michael McGrath where we are still lobbying to try to get the VAT rate reduced from 13.5 percent to 9 percent in order to help the tourism sector. There is no guarantee but hopefully we will see some movement in that,” he added.