Public consultation on new Kerry greenway to take place

A public consultation is due to get underway tomorrow on a proposed new greenway between Cahersiveen and Reenard in County Kerry.

Work is already underway on a 27-kilometre route - the South Kerry Greenway - running from Glenbeigh village to the town of Cahersiveen.

The proposed new 5km greenway will link Cahersiveen to the Valentia Island ferry point at Reenard.

Six separate options are being proposed by Kerry County Council in partnership with Transport Infrastructure Ireland for the additional 5km route.

Members of the Project Team will be available to speak with the public from 3pm to 8pm tomorrow at Cahersiveen Library.

Detailed plans will also be published on the Kerry County Council website, where submissions and observations can be made up to 15 November.

In November 2020, An Bord Pleanála granted planning permission for the 27km South Kerry Greenway, along with the accompanying Compulsory Purchase Order for the land needed.

Kerry County Council had originally sought permission for a 31km route to include Reenard, but permission for the 4km section from Cahersiveen to Reenard Point was refused planning permission and is now subject to this separate planning application.

First mooted in 2014, work on the highly anticipated greenway finally got underway in January 2023 following a number of legal appeals.

The local authority said it hopes to open a 10km section of this route towards the end of 2025.