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At the opening of the Tralee Fenit Greenway on Friday were Kerry County Council Chief Executive Moira Murrell, Cllr Johnnie Wall, Minister Norma Foley, Mayor of Tralee Mikey Sheehy, Minister Hildegarde Naughton, Brendan Griffin TD, Cllr Jim Finucane, Michael Healy Rae TD and Cllr Sam Locke. Photo by Dermot Crean
THE Tralee-Fenit Greenway was officially opened today by the Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Hildegarde Naughton TD.
It was the second Greenway she opened on Friday after she opened the 16km Listowel to Abbeyfeale Greenway earlier that morning.
Those present at the opening at the Bracker O’Regan Road entrance to the Greenway included public representatives, landowners, the Council team who worked on the project, members of Spa-Fenit Community Council and others. Rev Jim Stephens and Fr Padraig Walsh also gave a blessing to the Greenway.
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A monument by local stonemason Billy Leen at the entrance to the Greenway was also unveiled by Mayor of Tralee Mikey Sheehy and Minister Naughton. The monument features a rose and St Brendan in his boat, symbols of Tralee and Fenit.
In a joint statement, Cathaoirleach of Listowel Municipal District, Cllr Aoife Thornton and the Mayor of Tralee, Cllr Mikey Sheehy, said: “This is a historic day for the county. The opening of new two greenway routes not only enhances the reputation of Kerry as a prime location for walking and cycling infrastructure, it also greatly enhances our tourism offering as well as the local economy.
“We can look forward in anticipation to the development of a new link between these two greenways as well as the development of the South Kerry Greenway and the linking of the various routes which will enable users to enjoy the county’s beautiful landscape,” they said.
Minister of State Hildegarde Naughton said: “We have allocated approximately €60m for Greenways alone this year as well as over €285m in walking and cycling infrastructure around the country to enable people to safely choose to walk or cycle instead of using the car. The opening of these projects in Kerry today are just some of the many infrastructure schemes we are committed to progressing over the lifetime of the Government.
Chief Executive of Kerry County Council, Moira Murrell said: “I want to acknowledge the support of the Department of Transport in funding these greenways and I want to thank local landowners and local communities for their cooperation and support. I also thank the staff of Kerry County Council who have worked for so many years to develop these essential amenities.”
The new projects in Kerry were funded by the Department of Transport and delivered by Kerry County Council and Transport Infrastructure Ireland.
At the opening of the Tralee Fenit Greenway on Friday were Fr Padraig Walsh and Rev. Jim Stephens. Photo by Dermot Crean
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At the opening of the Tralee Fenit Greenway on Friday were Spa Community Council members John Foley, Dermot Crowley, Colette O’Sullivan, Gráinne Landers and Nora Landers. Photo by Dermot Crean
At the opening of the Tralee Fenit Greenway on Friday were Cllr Cathal Foley, Kerry County Council Chief Executive Moira Murrell, Cllr Sam Locke, Brendan Griffin TD Minister Hildegarde Naughton Michael Healy Rae TD, Minister Norma Foley, Mayor of Tralee Mikey Sheehy, Tralee MD Manager Niamh O’Sullivan and Cllr Johnnie Wall. Photo by Dermot Crean
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