South Kerry Greenway is built on land ‘stolen’ from farmers

Cllr Johnny Healy-Rae said people need to be aware not all, or even a majority, of the 133 farmers involved in the 32km greenway believe they have been treated with respect

The first 3.1km section of the South Kerry Greenway from Goldens Shop, Kells, to the Old Railway Station at Kells openeed to the oublic last December. File picture: Valerie O'Sullivan

People who use the €23m South Kerry Greenway need to be reminded it is built on land “taken” from farmers, it has been claimed.

Ahead of a meeting of landowners this evening, Cllr Johnny Healy-Rae said people also need to be aware not all, or even a majority, of the 133 farmers involved in the 32km South Kerry Greenway believe they have been treated with respect.

“Nobody is against the greenway, but there is a disappointment about the way the farmers have been treated,” he said. 

“Like so many other councillors, I was all for the greenway but not the compulsory purchase orders of land that has been in farming families for generations.”

He said not only has land been taken from farmers, but only a small proportion of farmers have had any proper dialogue with the council.

“Many do not know what is going on or when exactly work will be finally finished,” he said. 

“While landowners should be the most important part of this whole project, it hasn’t happened that way.”

The meeting in Foilmore Community Centre, Caherciveen, will hear from Kerry County Council’s CEO Fearghal Reidy and senior Irish Farmers Association (IFA) staff, including Kerry IFA Kerry County chair Jason Fleming.

Farmers have previously complained of officials walking around their land unannounced and work being carried out without their consent or — in some cases — even consultation.

While the council has blamed “engineering challenges” for delays to a project that was first formally announced in 2011, it is the interaction between it and landowners that has remained an issue.

Mr Fleming said around 70% of the 133 farmers affected by the greenway are not “happy” with the way things have progressed.

Outstanding issues are ongoing works, a timeline, and compensation

He said there are three main outstanding issues that will be dealt with at the meeting: ongoing works, a timeline on when they will be finished, and compensation.

“We have gone straight to the top with this and the people who are making the decisions," Mr Fleming said.

"They have promised to engage with farmers ... there should have been agreements in place before any works were started.”

He said there is proper engagement going on now and he would be “quite confident we can move things on from the stalemate we are at”.

Kerry County Council was asked for a comment.

In the past, when asked about issues with farmers on the greenway, the council has stated it is “continuously engaging with landowners in relation to reaching agreement on accommodation works and compensation”.