Council to seek funding for Quiet Man greenway study

A FEASIBILITY study into a greenway linking Athenry to Milltown, via Tuam is to be applied for by Galway County Council, it has been announced.

A statement issued on Friday afternoon has stated the council will include the Quiet Man Greenway as one of two applications to the government’s National Greenway Strategy.

The deadline for applications for €53m is the end of November. There were fears the Quiet Man Greenway proposal would not make the deadline when a counter motion passed at last month’s council meeting proposed a Greenway Master Plan for the entire county.

However, the council directive issued on Friday has stated that the Quiet Man Greenway will be included in one of its two proposals that are currently being finalised by council officials.

“Having regard to the resources available and the timeline and requirements of the application process for funding, the approach being taken to the seeking of funding has two elements,” the statement said.

“In the first instance an application for funding is to be made in respect of the construction of a further section of the Connemara Greenway of which part is already completed and a further substantial portion has planning permission.

“In addition, an application is to be made in respect of other Greenway proposals which have been highlighted as projects that might be progressed including having had some level of consideration as to start and finish points and possible routes. This is expected to be no more than two or three proposals, at most, and will include the seeking of funding for a feasibility study for a greenway between Athenry and Milltown.

“It is intended that these applications will be submitted to the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport within the deadline for the current call for proposals which is November 30.”