Opening of 70km Grand Canal Greenway in Offaly heralds a ‘new era of outdoor recreation’
As reported in Irish Independent by Eoin Kelleher
Ireland’s newest Greenway has been officially opened, spanning 70km across County Offaly, from Edenderry in the east to Shannon Harbour in the west.
Cathaoirleach of Offaly County Council, Cllr Tony McCormack and Mr James Lawless TD, Kildare North and Minister of State at the Department of Transport, carried out the official opening of the Grand Canal Greenway on Thursday, October 10.
The ceremony was attended by Offaly County Council elected members, Oireachtas members, the county council management team, led by Chief Executive Anna Marie Delaney and invited guests.
Given the flat gradient, it is perfect for cyclists and walkers of all ages and abilities as well as families seeking leisurely strolls amidst breathtaking scenery, said a spokesperson.
The next phase of the project will be to further develop the ‘discovery and recovery’ points along the canal. These are the many points of interest alongside the route where visitors and stop, learn rest in addition to grabbing some refreshments at regular intervals.
This project started in 2017 with the initial €170,000 provided by Offaly County Council. It was subsequently funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development (ORIS Scheme), the Department of Transport and in the latter stages by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII). The project has been delivered in partnership with Waterways Ireland.
At the opening ceremony, Cllr Tony McCormack expressed his pride in the Grand Canal Greenway’s inauguration. He highlighted the economic, health, and social benefits it brings to the county, confirming “It’s a fantastic day for the region. I often emphasise how much Offaly has to offer, now people can experience our warm welcome first hand.”
Minister James Lawless TD said, “The opening of the Offaly section of the Grand Canal Greenway represents an exciting development for County Offaly. “Approximately €9 million has been spent delivering the scheme the Offaly section of the Grand Canal Greenway route. This route offers 70km of safe, accessible active travel infrastructure and will encourage greater levels of travel via cycling and walking rather than private car use amongst leisure users, tourists, and commuters.”
Chief Executive Anna Marie Delaney spoke of how this is an “exciting development for Offaly and enhances the tourism potential for the wider midlands region,” thanking “our funding partners, our elected members, who, along with Waterways Ireland, had the dedicated vision to delivery our 70kms of safe, accessible active travel infrastructure and will encourage greater levels of travel via cycling and walking and provide enhanced permeability along this greenway.
“Driving growth through tourism in Offaly and the wider region is a key priority for Offaly County Council, as outlined in the launch of Offaly’s Tourism Strategy earlier this year.” Ms Delaney commended the local and regional contractors involved in this project, including Tower Ltd, Lakeland Civil, Rathcabin, and the Council’s Roads Department, led by director of services Tom Shanahan, senior engineer Barry Lennon, district engineers John Mitchell, John Connelly and Joe Harte and the planning department, led by acting director of services Andrew Murray. “Their dedication ensured the project’s successful completion, averaging at €128,000 per kilometre. This achievement highlights how local councils are delivering for their communities, promoting good governance, and serves as an exemplar to all funding partners that Offaly provides excellent value for money in project delivery,” said Ms Delaney.
Accompanying Minister Lawless and Cathaoirleach Cllr Tony McCormack for a cycle on the Greenway were Darragh Jordan and Ella Henson, 5th-year students from Gallen Community School, Ferbane.
Garrett Buckley, the school’s principal, stated, “Our school is dedicated to fostering an environment where students can achieve their full potential both academically and personally. We are delighted to have this wonderful and accessible development on our doorstep – it will provide a creative and educational outlet for our school and enhances our wider community.”
This 70km Grand Canal Greenway infrastructure accounts for the delivery of about 20pc of the National Cycle Network targets up to 2025.
Meanwhile, tourism officer with Offaly County Council, Olive Farrelly, confirmed “the Grand Canal Greenway is a cornerstone of Offaly’s tourism strategy, enhancing our county’s appeal as a premier destination for outdoor enthusiasts. “Our latest tourism asset not only showcases our historically rich landscapes but also supports our commitment to sustainable tourism and community well-being. We are excited to see both locals and visitors alike enjoy the unique experiences out county has to offer – everyone is ‘Offaly welcome’ here.”
Acting director of services for planning with Offaly County Council, Andrew Murray, highlighted that the council is continually enhancing the Grand Canal Greenway through Pathfinder projects that demonstrate sustainable travel initiatives. These efforts align with national, regional, and local goals for sustainable mobility under the national planning framework (NPF) and regional spatial and economic strategy (RSES).
Key milestones include the completed link between Edenderry Harbour and the Greenway, and the ongoing development of a strategic connection between Boora Discovery Park and the Greenway, set for completion in 2024 with funding from TII.
Additionally, the link from Ballycommon to Kilbeggan Harbour is designed to connect to the Old Rail Trail in County Westmeath at Streamstown, providing future connectivity to the Royal Canal.
Construction is also progressing on Offaly County Council’s first significant Trailhead amenity at Ballycommon. This facility will feature 52 parking spaces catering to all demographics, electric vehicle charging infrastructure, public lighting, and new pedestrian facilities. These works are funded by TII.