Raised cycle and walking platform over lakes of Killarney given green light by planning board

An Coimisiún Pleanala granted permission saying it had regard to 'the significant health and safety improvement for pedestrians and cyclists'

The raised platform will run alongside Muckross Lake. Picture: Pádraic Fogarty

A much sought-after raised cycle and walking platform over the lakes of Killarney has been given the green light by An Coimisiún Pleanala.

Running alongside the N71 in Killarney National Park, cyclists' and walkers' safety was a key reason in the decision by the planning board to grant permission for the development alongside the centre of Muckross lake.

Currently, cyclists and walkers must take to the busy and dangerous N71 road to complete their loop of the lakes of Killarney.

The proposal by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) will see tonnes of concrete and steel brought onto a sensitive area stretching for almost 1km between Dinis and Torc.

The site is designated a special area of conservation, a special protected area, and a national heritage area.

The plans had received strong backing from Fáilte Ireland, the Killarney Chamber of Commerce and Tourism, the mayor of Killarney, Councillor John O’Donoghue, as well as hoteliers and tourism groups.

Kerry County Council gave permission in January 2025. An appeal was lodged by conservation consultant Peter Sweetman on behalf of Wild Ireland Defence, based in Allihies in West Cork.

In his appeal, Mr Sweetman said the use of tonnes of material in the special area of conservation “could not but have an effect on the SAC”.

Initially, the An Coimisiún Pleanala inspector recommended refusal — raising concerns about a lack of detail and the impact of the construction on mature trees, as well as the impact on species such as the Kerry slug, the lesser horseshoe bat and the Killarney fern, according to documents.

The decision was deferred and a Section 132 notice — seeking more detail on the effect on the woodland and on habitat loss — was issued in June 2025 by the appeals board.

In its response, the NPWS said 101 of the 129 oak, ash, hazel, birch and grey willow and other trees in the three hectare area were to be retained, while 19 will have to be trimmed and nine trees removed.

There would be no removal of mature trees, the national parks body said. 

The planning inspector recommended permission.

Granting permission, An Coimisiún Pleanala said it had regard to the Kerry County Development Plan, to ensure the retention of trees or replace them, and also to the need to retain the special conservation needs of the area. 

It also had regard to “the significant health and safety improvement for pedestrians and cyclists". 

Some 13 conditions are attached — these include mitigation measures protecting the integrity of European sites; supervision by an ecological clerk of works on site; the retention of boundary trees, protection of bats and other species; and traffic and heavy machinery management.