PLANS to create a Great Southern Trail cycling route through Limerick and Kerry were advanced at recent meeting of the major European cycling tourism promotion bodies.
The event, which was held in France, marked the first joint conference of the European Cycling Federation (ECF) and the European Greenways Association (EGWA) and the delegates were informed the the ongoing development of the Limerick/Kerry initiative by Liam O’Mahony, Cathaoirleach, Great Southern Trail (GST).
Mr. O’Mahony outlined the progress made in developing the 40km of rail-trail in Co. Limerick and expressed the appreciation of the GST to all supportive bodies and public representatives as well as to the general public and the adjoining landowners.
He said it took 20 years of campaigning to achieve this success and stressed that “there should be no such delay” In completing the Co. Kerry section of the route.
He said that the complete project would be “of enormous benefit to locals and tourists alike with the North Kerry/ West Limerick economy also benefitting”.
He welcomed proposals by the ECF/EGWA, in tandem with EU bodies, to focus future cycling development on 14 specific, long distance trans-national European Cycle routes. Two of the routes include Ireland with Route 1 beginning in Portugal and hugging the Atlantic seaboard of the EU all the way to the North Cape in Norway.
