Former rail line opens as amenity trail in Kerry

Another old railway line is to get a new lease of life as a walking and cycling route. The first, 1.5km phase of the Tralee-Fenit Amenity Trail has been officially opened by Alan Kelly, the minister of state for transport, tourism, and sport.

The disused line, opened in 1887 and closed in 1978, runs for 13km to the port and fishing village of Fenit.

Mr Kelly, accompanied by Tralee mayor Pat Hussey, yesterday visited the developed stretch from Rock St, in the heart of Tralee, to the Bracker O’Regan Rd. Mr Hussey said that, as well as offering cycling and walking opportunities to locals, the trail would greatly enhance Kerry’s ability to attract activity tourists.

“Up to quite recently, dedicated cycling and walking infrastructure was generally not available in smaller towns or in rural areas,” said Mr Hussey. “Provision of off-road cycling facilities as a method of promoting the activity for both domestic users and visitors was a new concept, as was the conversion of old railways into pathways.’’

Locals were already benefiting, he said, with Mounthawk Secondary School students using the trail to journey to and from school.

Mr Hussey and town manager Michael McMahon paid tribute to local residents for their goodwill.

He also acknowledged recent funding of €3.4m for the Glenbeigh-Cahirciveen Greenway on the Ring of Kerry as proof of the Government’s commitment to amenity trailways.

He was sure the extension and completion of the route would act as a catalyst for other routes countrywide.