Press release From: The Western Rail Trail campaign May 4th 2018 for immediate release: 330 words (main body text) • Former independent Alliance minister Sean Canney opens door for Greenway on so called Western Rail Corridor • Mr. Canney states “if the railway is going to happen it will happen and if not we can look at alternative uses” • Greenway campaign welcomes comments as an open door to create a greenway from Athenry to Sligo A spokesman for the Western Rail Trail Campaign – an alliance of community-based campaign groups in Galway Mayo and Sligo campaigning to preserve the alignment of the closed rail line from Athenry to Collooney by utilising the route for tourism and leisure as a greenway until such time as a railway may be possible, has welcomed the comments made by Sean Canney TD on Today with Sean O’Rourke following his resignation from the Independent Alliance. On the Today with Sean O’Rourke programme on May 4th Mr Canney was asked by Sean O’Rourke about his position on the Western Rail Corridor: Sean O’Rourke asked Mr Canney “What is your position on the Western Rail Corridor it has got as far as Ennis to Athenry with not many people on the train and some people suggesting what would be a far better idea would be to turn it into a greenway from Athenry to Claremorris what is your view on that” Mr Canney responded with the answer: “A Review is being carried out and the process has started on that and that will be concluded in the next number of months and that will decide whether or not the railway is a viable project.” Mr Canney continued to say “What I am saying is if the railway is going to happen it will happen and if not we can look at alternative uses” A spokesperson for the Western Rail Trail campaign, Mr. Brendan Quinn said “This is the first time Mr. Canney has said on public record that alternative uses will be considered for the closed railway route and his attitude is to be commended and we are glad to see that Mr Canney now also supports this position”. The spokesperson continued, “We don’t wish to pre-empt the findings of the Department of Transport report on the so called Western Rail Corridor and hope this matter can be resolved as quickly as possible. If the Report says the railway is not viable, then a greenway must be the way forward to protect the route in public ownership” ENDS: body text 330 words Contacts: Brendan Quinn 087 4198193, John Mulligan 0863872631 Find us on Facebook: sligomayogreenwaycampaign email brenquinn@eircom.net or jmu2@eircom.net podcast of RTE interview with Sean O’Rourke go to 08.40 to hear comments on greenway and railway https://www.rte.ie/radio1/podcast/podcast_seanorourke.xml