Extended Clare O'Leary Walk in Bandon is now open - 25th July 2025

Back in June of 2025, I had a post up about how the newly refurbished and extended Clare O'Leary Walk in Bandon would open this summer.... https://corkrunning.blogspot.com/2025/06/extension-to-bandon-walkway-expected-to.html

Well the day has finally arrived! The photo above from the 'This is Bandon' Facebook page shows a part of the new greenway overlooking the N71 road to Cork City.

If you're not familiar with the location then it's shown on the map below.

The total length of the new walkway is 2.6kms which raises the intriguing possibility of whether it could host a future 5k parkrun???

At the moment, the new walk ends at the north-east end on the N71 road so it's very much an out and back option for users at the moment.

Hopefully in the long term, there will be a bridge over the Bandon River and it will connect to the proposed Greenway from Crossbarry to Cork City.

Cork County Council always seem to be on the receiving end of a lot of abuse but in this case they got it spot on. Despite some moaners and whingers in Bandon, the Council has delivered a fine facility for the public to use.

Links...
1) The 'This is Bandon' Facebook page has some photos HERE

Extension to Bandon walkway expected to open July 2025

The Clare O'Leary Walk in Bandon runs alongside the N71 road and it opened more than a decade ago. The walk which is about 1.6kms in length however was not easily accessible by foot from the town and anyone wishing to use it had to drive there.

The photo below shows what the road between the walkway and the town looked like in 2009. As can be seen from the photo, it was very dangerous for anyone wishing to walk or run to the walkway. It was like this up to recently.

The only safe way to get to the walkway was by driving there. When I used it a few years back, it looked overgrown which suggests that not many people used it.

A new walkway connecting the Clare O'Leary Walk is now under construction.

This new section which is about 1km in length will connect the Clare O'Leary Walk to the town itself. 

The overall length now for the new extended walk is about 2.6kms which might suit some runners that want to do a light run or some speed work.

You'll notice as well that 2.6kms out and back (5.2kms) is enough to fit a 5k parkrun. Is there any interest locally?? Maybe there are some other factors we don't know about.

The full length of the Greenway which will be now be a full 3-metres in width is expected to open in July of 2025.

While the north-eastern end of the walk still ends on the busy N71 road, there is a possibility that it become part of the new West Cork Greenway in the future. The Clare O'Leary Walk would cross a bridge over the Bandon River, through an old tunnel and then onto Upton, Crossbarry, Halfway and through the Goggins Hill tunnel to Cork City.