Every possible effort should be made to secure the full cooperation of landowners for plans to develop a major new cycle and walking route which will circle the Lakes of Killarney and encompass magnificent views of the national park, senior Kerry County Council officials have been told.
The plan is for the long-planned Lough Lein Loop to provide spectacular amenity trails around Lough Leane and Muckross Lake and create incredible opportunities for walkers and cyclists.
The 9km trail would meander through rich woodlands on the slopes of the 735m Tomies mountain and wind its way along the shores of Lough Leane and the spectacular O’Sullivan’s Cascade, in the sprawling Killarney National Park.
The aim of the project, to be funded by Fáilte Ireland and involving the National Parks and Wildlife Service, Kerry County Council and local walking and tourism groups, is to link up a number of the existing trail sections to create a full circuit around the lakes, starting and finishing in Killarney town.
It is widely acknowledged that the project has real potential to deliver an iconic trail that would be renowned internationally.
Raising the matter this week at a meeting of Killarney Municipal District Council, Cllr Brendan Cronin asked what progress had been made with specific landowners, particularly in the section from Tomies Wood to the Gap Cross.
“This greenway has all the potential to be our jewel in the crown. The Lough Leane Loop would be the most scenic and beautiful area that you could ever set eyes on,” he said.
Cllr Cronin said it is his understanding that there is enormous goodwill for the project and it is important now to get a commitment from all the landowners involved.
“We need to seize the goodwill with both hands. If we lose one, the project fails. We have nature on our side – all we need is agreement,” he remarked.
Cllr Niall O’Callaghan said it seems to be him that the project has almost been forgotten about.
“The plans were here long before a lot of the greenways that are actually finished now. I only hope it is progressed in 2023,” he said.
Mayor Cllr Niall Kelleher said it is important that there is buy-in from everybody given the iconic nature of the project.
“Every landowner is important, even if they only own a gate,” he remarked.
Killarney Municipal District Manager, Angela McAllen, said talks with landowners are ongoing and active and the council will talk to them all.
The local authority’s capital projects unit will continue to progress the project during 2023.
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