I am reproducing a post here for you from the Quiet Man Greenway Facebook page by Sara Walls of the Campaign, to explain the clumsiness of how the Anti Greenway cllrs stitched up the campaign for that one day, they can't stop us by they can delays us. Clumsy transparent and very foolish, the list of Anti Greenway cllrs will be published soon.  If you don't want to see the Western Rail Trail they are the ones to vote for, otherwise you know what to do next May.

Sara Walls of the Quiet Man Greenway Campaign: 
WHAT HAPPENED? 24th September Galway County Council 
2 motions 39 voters (3 absent so 35 actually voted, 1 abstained)

Motion 1) proposed by Shaun Cunniffe, Tuam 
...for Galway County Councillors to approve an application for Government funding for a feasibility study on the disused rail line from Athenry to Milltown: what we now call The Quietman Greenway (QMG)........................ so ONE Greenway

VOTE 27/8 in favour .... but many previously anti QMG councillors now vote in favour .... WHY??? ... (previous votes Sept.17 and Jan 18)

Motion 2) proposed by Jimmy McClearn,Loughrea and seconded by Michael Connolly, Ballinasloe 
...to approve an application for funding for a county wide greenways feasibility study which would link in to the national route from Dublin to Galway (currently bogged down with Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPO)) ... to include areas such as Tuam, Clifden, Tuam, Claregalway, Oranmore, Claregalway, Loughrea, Gort, Ballinasloe, Portumna, Headford and Glenamaddy......so, MANY possible Greenways

VOTE 18/17 in favour AND motion 2 cancels motion 1 as everything in county now included (but oddly no mention of Milltown or QMG specifically)

Motion 2 is what is known as a SPOILER VOTE....
Explain..... Councillors who want to prevent the QMG suddenly vote for it in motion 1 but then very generously, it seems, want to give many other towns and villages a greenway as well in motion 2. Eg Athenry/Oranmore Cllr Peter Feeney, who is a very actively campaigning member of West on Track and has been against giving permission for a QMG feasibility study, suddenly votes for QMG funding; then, with many other QMG opposers, he votes to fund an enquiry into a Galway county greenways masterplan.

Applying for feasibility funding for numerous greenways could become
a) very expensive
b) a very lengthy process

so that the whole application is denied by Government.
It is also very problematic as the 'numerous' option has routes that do NOT fit with the Government guidelines. A councillor who pointed this out was ignored on the day. It is possible that many councillors were not properly prepared with that fact and other Greenway Strategy information.

Galway County Council would find it almost impossible to prepare the paperwork for the 30th November funding deadline
2 OTHER POINTS
1) The spoiler motion made it look as if anti QMG cllrs were now pro QMG and pro greenway in general whilst making cllrs who voted against look as if they were denying opportunity to their own and other areas. 
SIMPLY any cllr who voted yes to 1) and no to 2) is a pro QMG.......... one of our supporters
NB the QMG group is actively reaching out to support other greenways and some have reached out to support us.

2) The spoiler vote was prepared in advance and planned for very carefully. The anti QMG cllrs could not risk voting for motion 1 only to have their spoiler defeated. They woud have canvassed and ensured their spoiler vote numbers; with that pre-arranged they could then vote in favour of motion 1 ie QMG alone and look as if they were facilitating our wishes.

Personally I wonder do some county councillors truly believe that we will not spot what they have done
I can spot it easily enough.
It has made me angry and frustrated.
It has made my determination turn to steel
WE WILL HAVE A QUIETMAN feasibility study and almost certainly a Quietman Greenway. We must await the rail report. In the meantime we will pursue an option that so many people 'feel' is the 'RIGHT' option.

Last but not least.... Sean Canney TD produced statements both this year and last year that were an attempt to influence councillors with reference to the Rail Review. Last year the Chamber was informed that the rail review was underway BUT the rail review only started last week so last years info was incorrect. A councillor told me that his no vote last year and last January '18 was heavily influenced by this misinformation.

I realise that this piece is very long. If I condense it too much it will not give you the detail that illustrates that we were treated atrociously last Monday 24th September.