By Claire Corrigan
“The Royal Canal Greenway will be the longest off-road walking and cycling route in Ireland at 130km from Maynooth to Clondra, Longford. It will be a world class amenity for families, communities and tourists alike,” the attendance was told at the Economic Enterprise and Tourism SPC meeting of Westmeath County Council on Friday last.
The Canal Greenway update was provided by Sharon Lavin, Head of Marketing and Communications, Waterways Ireland representing the five stakeholders (the Longford, Westmeath, Meath, Kildare and Roscommon Waterways Ireland), along with John McKeon (Eastern Regional Manager, Waterways Ireland).
“It will transform the towns and villages along the Royal Canal Greenway and restore the health and prosperity of the region” she continued noting that they are seeing renewed appreciation for the outdoors with domestic and overseas tourists, Ms. Lavin told the meeting.
A virtual launch will take place on 24 March, she revealed. ‘The Canal runs through many attractions such as Belvedere House, and tourists are looking for a new destination.”
For 2021, the focus will be the domestic tourist.
“We have identified 13 different journeys along the route with trail heads at four different locations including Mullingar. They offer services such as parking, toilets, accommodation, food and public transport and bike hire.”
“There are 11 access points and insights tell us that cyclists typically cycle around 20km maximum before they like to stop off but that won’t cycle the full 130km.”
She said they want to encourage visitors to stay in the region and visit the towns and villages along the way including attractions ‘or have lunch or dinner’ and said they were encouraging businesses to offer packages an incentive. “It’s important we provide shuttle services that will bring them back to base.”
Signage
She said signage was critical and provides tourists with a sense of direction saying that “using distinctive Greenway signage and branding” and route distances and other information of available services will be highlighted and storyboards will interpret local stories and find ‘hidden gems’ along the route.
“We have a positive shift towards Greenways and cycling under the current government. Greenways are one of the biggest successes of Irish tourism.”
She spoke of the success of the Western and Waterford Greenway with the former seeing 45,000 visitors and approx. €7m being returned to the local economy in year one. “Recent reports show 250000 visitors annually to the area. New businesses have been popping up all over the place so it’s through the Greenway we will stimulate new economic opportunities along the route.”
Research in year one will demonstrate who these users are, she explained.
After year one, research indicated that there was an average spend of €28.50 per visitor.
The Royal Canal Greenway will provide a network of opportunity for locals, visitos and businesses to create a destination along this Greenway.
In 2020, she revealed that between June and August when restrictions were lifted, there were 16,111 visitors to Mary Lynch’s pub. ‘Local people are exercising and using this amenity for local exercise and that means improved health and mental wellbeing. For those who commute using this amenity, there is also the carbon benefit too.’
There is a need to develop attractive services for the visitor, she continued. ‘We need service provision, cycle hire, reasons to stay longer – the visitor wants to hear the local stories. We will work with businesses along the Greenway to develop packages and with Fáilte Ireland and encourage them to work together and network. We can all be ambassadors for this region.’
John Geoghegan, President of Mullingar Chambers of Commerce, wel- comed the work carried out on the canal to date. He noted that the lockhouses along the canal could be utilised, perhaps by being transformed into cafes, to encourage tourism. He also said that providing information on biodiversity could encourage visitors to do the route.
Cllr John Dolan (FG) said that he felt it was important there were ample opportunities for locals to engage in the amenity and asked that these opportunities are identified. He said that the provision of toilet facilities continues to be an issue and that older buildings could be utilised in this respect. He noted that the National Transport Authority (NTA) has purchased 70 new buses that don’t cater for bikes. ‘Maybe when talking to the transport providers, you could highlight this. We need a joint approach. I was disappointed that the fleet of new buses don’t cater for bikes.’
Ms Lavin said their property and legal team are looking at opportunities involving derelict lockhouses. ‘Developing lockhouses is high on our agenda along the route.’
Mr McKeown said the lockhouse at Coolnahay is owned by Claire Crinnegan where teas and coffees were provided. ‘We don’t own all the lockhouses’ he noted, adding that they will be examined.
Mr Geoghegan suggested that ‘eco-friendly buildings’ could be built along the route at 20km intervals. He also queried if an initiative like the Dublin Bikes scheme could be launched here.
Mr McKeown said that Waterways Ireland will meet with all stakeholders along the route to encourage incentives such as bike hire and encourage visitor facilities.
Next Week: Making use of the Famine Way, and the County Council’s input plans.
