Tralee–Fenit Greenway

52°16′53″N 9°47′8″W / 52.28139°N 9.78556°W / 52.28139; -9.78556

Tralee–Fenit Greenway
a section of a greenway, looking over the Atlantic ocean
Tralee Fenit Greenway route at Kilfenora
Length14 kilometres (9 mi)
LocationCounty Kerry, Ireland
TrailheadsTralee
Fenit
UseHiking, cycling
Maintained byKerry County Council[1]
Websitetraleefenitgreenway.com

The Tralee–Fenit Greenway is a greenway and rail trail in Ireland,[2] which is due to form part of EuroVelo EV1 and the Great Southern Trail. The 14km route was planned to be completed by 2021, but delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic,[3] with a rescheduled opening of summer 2022.[4] The first phase of the greenway, comprising 6.5km of the route, was opened in June 2022,[5] this was extended to 11.2km in October 2022.[6][7]

History

part of disuses railway showing dumping, overgrowth
Work was needed to recover the disused railway path from overgrowth

In 2017, CIÉ agreed to divest the Tralee - Fenit and North Kerry railways to Kerry County Council,[8][9] in order to facilitate the completion of the Kerry Greenways. Initially planned to open in 2021, the project completion date was updated to 2022 owing to a "planning matter".[10][11] The planned route required the development of new underpasses.[12]

Blockades

Soon after the official opening, gates on the greenway were blocked-off by third-parties on multiple occasions.[13][14]

Great Southern Greenway

As the Tralee–Fenit and Tralee–Limerick railways shared the same rail-bed out of Tralee,[9] the first 3km of the Tralee Fenit Greenway also forms part of the Great Southern Trail and EuroVelo EV1.[15][16]

References

  1. ^ "New walkway linking with Tralee-Fenit Greenway will offer exciting new leisure amenity". KerryCoCo.ie. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  2. ^ Brouder, Simon (3 February 2021). "Concerns over fencing along Greenway". The Kerryman. Retrieved 4 July 2021 – via Independent.ie.
  3. ^ "Opening of Tralee-Fenit Greenway will be gamechanger according to chamber". RadioKerry.ie. 27 December 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  4. ^ "Two Kerry greenways set to open in June". RadioKerry.ie. 11 January 2022. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  5. ^ "First phase of Tralee-Fenit Greenway opens". RadioKerry.ie. 24 June 2022. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
  6. ^ "Councillors condemn flytipping on newly opened Tralee-Fenit greenway". RadioKerry.ie.
  7. ^ "North Kerry charts a route to health and prosperity as greenway finally opens". independent. 11 October 2022.
  8. ^ "CIE agrees to hand over lands for completion of Kerry greenways". RadioKerry.ie. Archived from the original on 5 July 2015. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  9. ^ a b "Why is a Diversion Being Proposed for the Tralee-Fenit Greenway?". RadioKerry.ie. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  10. ^ Brouder, Simon (9 September 2020). "Greenway confusion". The Kerryman. Retrieved 4 July 2021 – via Independent.ie.
  11. ^ Brouder, Simon (19 May 2021). "Another banana skin facing the Fenit Greenway". The Kerryman. Retrieved 4 July 2021 – via Independent.ie.
  12. ^ Crean, Dermot (6 May 2021). "Public Consultation On Proposed Tralee-Fenit Greenway Underpass At The Spa". TraleeToday.ie. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  13. ^ "Council urged to hold talks to ensure Tralee-Fenit greenway blocking stops".
  14. ^ O'Sullivan, Jennie (November 2022). "Section of new Kerry greenway blocked by locked gates". RTÉ News.
  15. ^ Prendiville, Norma (5 June 2021). "Call to mark railway families with new mural along Limerick Greenway". LimerickLeader.ie. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  16. ^ Halloran, Cathy (1 July 2021). "€10m Limerick greenway opens". RTÉ News. Retrieved 4 July 2021.