The petition for a greenway on the closed railway from Sligo to Athenry was submitted for consideration to the Dail Petitions committee in July.

I am delighted to inform you that on Thursday 19th October the petition was given its first consideration and met with a very favourable reception.

A huge thanks goes to Ciaran Cannon TD. The Galway East TD spoke at the petitions committee in full support of our aim of a Greenway now, Railway when and if it is possible, with a greenway to run alongside.

Ciaran spoke with a great degree of knowledge and passion at the meeting, reflecting our collective frustration at the delay in bringing a long disused rail line back into use, to benefit all of our communities from Galway to Sligo.

As a result of our work in gathering over 26,000 signatures and Ciaran’s contribution at the committee, we have now been offered an opportunity to appear before the committee later this year to have our case heard in much more detail, with officials from the Department of Transport present, and required to respond. 

A massive thank you to everyone who signed the petition, at long last our collective voice is being heard by our national politicians.

Brendan Quinn

Greenway now Railway with parallel greenway when it becomes possible