The Waterford Greenway opened fully in March of 2017 and it has been hugely popular with walkers, cyclists and runners. The 46km path from Waterford City to Dungarvan has given an economic boost to the region and many other projects around the country are now trying to copy it.
Wexford County Council have just announced that they are going ahead with the development of a Greenway from
Waterford City to New Ross. This 24km section which follows an old railway line is expected to open in the
Autumn of 2021.
This is a very important development for a number of reasons.
1)
Dungarvan to New Ross... It effectively extends the Waterford Greenway so that it now goes from Dungarvan in West Waterford to New Ross in Co.Wexford, a distance of roughly 75kms.
There is a gap of 5kms / 3 miles in Waterford City which might reduced in time by more walkways.
2)
Barrow Way... One important feature of the new Greenway is that it goes beyond New Ross and crosses the River Barrow via an old rail bridge.
By getting to the east bank of the Barrow, the Greenway is only 15kms or so from St.Mullins and the end of Barrow Way.
The track along the Barrow Way starts at Lowtown, Co. Kildare and ends at St. Mullins, Co. Carlow covering a distance of 114 kilometres or 70 miles. The path takes in the towns of Monasterevin, Athy, Carlow, Leighlinbridge, Bagenalstown, Goresbridge, Graiguenamanagh and St Mullins.
You can seen now how things are beginning to join up. By extending the Barrow Way, there will be a walking and cycling trail from Lowtown in Kildare to Dungarvan in West Waterford, a distance of roughly
200kms.
3)
Extension to Cork??...... In a few years time, there will a Greenway from Midleton to Youghal in East Cork. The obvious question is if there is a way to connect it to the Greenway in Dingarvan?
Many of the new Greenways follow old railway lines.
The map above shows the old line going from Dungarvan to Cappoquin, Lismore, Fermoy and Mallow. It may be feasible in the future to have a Greenway along this route.
In an ideal world, it would be great to have a new Greenway from Youghal going north to Lismore or Cappoquin along the banks of the Blackwater river to join a new Greenway there. It might be easier said than done though as it wouldn't follow a previous route or trail.
A more direct route from Youghal to Dungarvan would require a hillier route and again, there are no old railway routes to take advantage of.
We'll have to wait and see what happens but it's great to see all these new greenways popping up. In running terms, they provide a safe training environment and a nice alternative to public roads.
