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A COUNCILLOR has asked Kerry County Council to start advertising the fact that there is a ‘Blueway’ from Tralee to Fenit and Ballyheigue.
Cllr Toireasa Ferris brought up the blueway — which would be an area where swimming, kayaking and other water activities could take place from the canal to Fenit and beyond — at the meeting of Tralee Municipal District on Monday.
She said there is very little investment required for a blueway and the Council should start advertising the fact that it is there now. She said the lock gates are now operational and they should be encouraging far more activities in the canal.
The Sinn Fein councillor said they should be contacting all businesses involved in water activity and asking them to consider running kayaking to Fenit, organising swimming events and other events for the summer.
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The eventual plan is for the blueway to link up with the Tralee-Fenit Greenway project to provide a unique attraction for locals and tourists alike.
“All the infrastructure is there, it’s just a matter of PR and signage. When the greenway comes to Fenit we will have a product that nowhere else in the country has,” said Cllr Ferris. She feared that some other part of the country would establish one first and get an advantage on Tralee and north Kerry.
Council management said a feasibility study for the development of blueways in North Kerry has been included in the Kerry Tourism Strategy.
They said progress has been made and the study will be completed and launched in the summer. Funding for their development will then be sought through various funding schemes.
