The Limerick greenway, described as one of the biggest outdoor and most transformative tourist amenity projects ever undertaken in Limerick, finally opens today.
Stretching 40km from Rathkeale to Abbeyfeale it represents a €10m investment by Limerick City and County Council.
It is designed to open up west Limerick to new businesses and tourism potential, and will eventually link up with the Kerry greenway giving cyclists and walkers a new sustainable and completely accessible route all the way to Fenit in Tralee Bay, Co Kerry.
Built along the former Limerick to Kerry rail line, it was first envisaged 30 years ago when the germ of an idea emerged to build a Great Southern trail along the route.
What has emerged is a new three-metre wide resurfaced route, which also involved extensive restoration of two 19th century railway station houses at Barnagh and Ardagh, the renovation of the 115-metre long Barnagh tunnel, and the cast iron Fergusons Viaduct.
There are access and stop off points at the main towns of Rathkeale, Newcastle West, Abbeyfeale and Templeglanton and access to historic sites like Desmond Castle and Ardagh, which is the home of the famous Ardagh Chalice.
It also offers new opportunities for businesses to open along the route supplying services like bike hire, cafes, and historic tours.
Eamon Foley runs a bicycle shop at Abbeyfeale and has now opened a bike hire and rental outlet at the Limerick Greenway hub located at the famous and scenic Barnagh gap area, from where onlookers can see over three counties.
He says the opening of the Limerick Greenway offers all sorts of opportunities for businesses like his, which offer visitors and tourists, bike child carriages and accessible transport as they need.
"I've set up a bike hire place here at the Greenway hub so that people can travel to this location, park their cars and take bikes then onto the Greenway no matter what ability they have, we can look after families and individuals with whatever ability, who want to take the route."
This really is the first opportunity for businesses to work on expanding the opportunities the Greenway offers. Limerick Council really have taken on the project over the last five years , and it is a very exciting time for all of us along the route" he said.
Olive Sheehan, whose family have been in the hospitality business for many years in west Limerick, and who is Chair of West Limerick Tourism group, said it presents a huge opportunity for businesses along the route to open up again.
Her family have run a number of hotels at Templeglan, and at Abbeyfeale, and this is the first time she will open her cafe, aviary, garden centre, and kennels for dog friendly visitors, for 26 years at the Barnagh gap location.
"We're just delighted to be able to showcase all that West Limerick has to offer. It's not just the historic railway heritage but we are also looking forward to offering all that West Limerick food producers have to offer, and there are many along the route, which can be accessed at many venues along the greenway, which is a huge bonus, she said.
It is one of the biggest tourism projects ever undertaken by Limerik City and County council, but a worthwhile one, given the dividends it's expected to deliver for the region.
Gordon Daly, Director of services at Limerick city and county council, said this was a strategically important piece of economic infrastructure for the region, and will provide a major boost for tourism this summer and in the years ahead, creating jobs and supporting local communities.
"We are delighted to reach this milestone and welcome visitors to the Limerick Greenway this summer and look forward to an official opening ceremony for this project later this year." he said,
Limerick City and County Council Chief Executive, Pat Daly said: "Trojan work has gone into making the opening of the Greenway possible this summer despite the pandemic. Although construction ceased earlier this year, causing significant delays to timelines, our ambition for the Greenway never faltered. Now due to the tireless work of so many, we are delighted to open it this week.
"Stretching through the rural countryside of West Limerick, the Greenway will help to balance investment across the county and give a boost to areas beyond the urban draw of Limerick city. The towns of Rathkeale, Newcastle West, and Abbeyfeale already have so much to offer, and the Greenway will be pivotal in assisting them, and the region as a whole, to thrive and flourish."
