Great Southern Trail
| Great Southern Trail | |
|---|---|
| Length | 85 km (53 mi) |
| Location | Counties Limerick & Kerry, Ireland |
| Trailheads | Limerick, Tralee |
| Use | Cycling and Walking |
| Hiking details | |
| Season | Any |
| Surface | Mud track |
| Website | http://www.southerntrail.net/ |
The Great Southern Trail is a greenway rail trail under development in Counties Limerick and Kerry, Ireland. It is intended to be 85 kilometres (53 miles) long when completed and run from Limerick to Tralee.[1] It is an off-road trail intended for use by cyclists and walkers along the route of the Great Southern and Western Railway Limerick to Tralee line which opened between 1867 and 1880 and was closed in 1977.[1] At present some 35 kilometres (22 miles) of the route between Rathkeale and Abbeyfeale have been developed.[2] The developed section of the trail passes through Ardagh, Newcastle West and Barnagh.[3]
The voluntary group Great Southern Trail Ltd has developed the trail for 20 years, at an estimated cost to date of €1 million.[4] They were awarded a special jury prize by the European Greenways Association at the 2011 European Greenways Awards in recognition of their efforts to develop the greenway between 1991 and 2011.[5]
Development of the trail has run into some difficulties, particularly in keeping the land, which is publicly owned (by CIÉ, the Irish transport authority) and keeping it away from some local landowners and neighbouring houses who fear crime and lack of use for it .[6] Walking track such Great southern trail at Limerick side has led to increased rural crime in these area leading to neabouring houses and farms opposition to the trail comeing in to Kerry. Local concerns Haven't been addressed leading to garda's being called to stop walker comeing into the Kerry side of the old railway Which has not being properly maintained by CIE. The developers lose out on a grant as the low support for the trail in Kerry and also due to no consultation with locals.
References
- 1 2 "Home". SouthernTrail.net. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
- ↑ "Trail Information". SouthernTrail.net. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
- ↑ "Great Southern Trail Map" (pdf). SouthernTrail.net. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
- ↑ McDonald, Frank (18 August 2011). "Minister urged to act over CIÉ land row". The Irish Times (Dublin). Retrieved 30 September 2011.
- ↑ Reidy, Marisa (14 September 2011). "Leaving a trail of honours at awards in France". The Kerryman. Retrieved 30 September 2011.
- ↑ Prendiville, Norma (17 September 2011). "Great Southern Trail Wins Special Jury Prize in European Greenways Association Award Scheme" (PDF). Limerick Leader. Retrieved 30 September 2011.
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