€3.2 million boost for Mayo's Great Western Greenway 

THE Minister for Rural and Community Development, Michael Ring, has announced that the government has allocated a further €3.2 million to Mayo County Council to support the extension of the Great Western Greenway.

The investment is to extend the route from Achill Sound to Bunnacurry as well as from Westport to Murrisk, developments that will add 56 kilometres to the popular tourist route.

The following funding has been allocated by the government:

 

 

 

Minister Ring said: “This is wonderful news for Mayo. This investment will see further extension of the greenway onto Achill Island and significant further work on the trail between Westport and Murrisk. With each investment from the Government we are getting closer to completing the Greenway all the way around Clew Bay.

“The Great Western Greenway has been a phenomenal success for Mayo. It is probably the finest outdoor recreational facility in the country and something of which we are rightly proud. Fine Gael started this project in 2011 and now we are helping to bring it nearer its completion.

“I have been committed to this project from the start and put huge energy behind it including during my time as Minister for Tourism and Sport in 2011.

"As Minister for Rural and Community Development, I allocated an additional €1.5 million in 2017 and 2018 to support the extension of the Greenway through my Department’s Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme.

“Tourism is vital for Mayo. Figures released by Fáilte Ireland this week show that every €1 million spent by tourists supports 27 jobs.

"There can be no doubt that the Great Western Greenway has helped create many jobs and brought significant amounts of money into Mayo. In so doing it has had a resoundingly positive impact on people’s lives.

“The Greenway has also provided us with a fantastic recreational resource and local people all along the route and from further afield in Mayo are using it in significant numbers. I’ve no doubt that it is having an extremely positive impact on people’s physical and mental health.

“Councillor Peter Flynn and Councillor Gerry Coyle have welcomed this funding.”