In previous posts, I looked at what was proposed for the Cork to Kinsale Greenway.
A look at the proposed routes for the Cork to Kinsale Greenway - Q3 2024 - 17 Sept 2024
Results of the 2nd consultation for the proposed Kinsale Greenway - 9 Apr 2025
At the start of July 2025, the preferred route corridor was revealed.
Key points...
A) The new Greenway will use the Chetwynd Viaduct. An artists impression is shown at the top of the post.
B) One of the previous options for this section from Cork City was to basically followed the N71 Bandon road which would have been pretty boring. Instead, the new Greenway will take in the village of Waterfall and more or less follow the route of the old railway line.
This includes taking in Goggins Hill Tunnel.
C) They've included a spur to Halfway and Crossbarry which will very likely in time connect to the Clare O'Leary walk going into Bandon. This will include Upton, another tunnel and a bridge over the Bandon River.
D) For the section south from the Goggins Hill Tunnel, they have decided to take the more direct cross country route to Riverstick. There had been other options to go further west which would have been more indirect.
E) The more direct route covers some steep ground to the west of Riverstick so it's likely they will use switch back sections here like the one already in use at the Greenway from Frankfield to the Tramore Valley Park.
F) To the south-west of Riverstick, the Greenway is likely to go through a woodland area so that should be nice.
G) The section down to Belgooly is likely is stay near the main R600 road. There is also the potential to pass near the local primary school which will allow for safe access for students.
H) The route from Belgooly to Kinsale has yet to be decided as can be seen from the map above. There is already a walkway along the estuary south of Belgooly so I suspect the final route will be the green one.
Details about the third public consultation can be seen HERE
A brochure for the consultation can be viewed HERE
They hope to apply for planning for the Greenway in 2027.
The project website is https://corkkinsalegreenway.ie/
In conclusion... This new greenway from Cork City to Kinsale will be a fantastic facility for walkers, runners and cyclists once it's built. It will most likely be in the second half of the 2030's before that happens.
Already, you can see people on social media moaning about 'bringing back the railway'. It's as if the track was still in place and it just needed to be reopened.
The route of the old railway to West Cork and Kinsale is long gone. There are buildings now where the old lines used to be. The railway to West Cork will never come back so it's really a case of a new Greenway or nothing.
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