Greenways in Ireland

A section of the Waterford greenway approaching Dungarvan

In recent years it has been government policy in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland to enhance cycling and walking infrastructure across the island. The following links, although not exhaustive, illustrate greenway projects that are either completed or ongoing:

Carlingford Lough Greenway, County Louth: currently links Carlingford to Omeath, but INTERREG VA funding will see it connect to Newry in County Down;

Cityside Greenway Network, Derry - extending from Craigavon Bridge to Boomhall, this off-road network runs adjacent to the River Foyle and provides fantastic off-road connectivity within the city;

Comber Greenway, Counties Antrim and Down: 11 kms commencing from CS Lewis Square, Belfast and finishing in Comber, County Down;

Connswater Greenway, County Antrim: 9km-linear park in the heart of East Belfast;

Foyle Valley Greenway, Counties Derry and Donegal - the first official cross-border greenway built on the island of Ireland, this 34km-route follows the line of the former Great Northern Railway and adjoins the Cityside greenway network at the Craigavon Bridge, extending along the River Foyle to Carrigans in County Donegal;

Great Southern Trail, County Limerick: 40 kms linking the towns of Rathkeale, Newcastle West and Abbeyfeale;

Great Western Greenway, County Mayo: extends for 42 kms from the town of Westport to within a kilometre of Achill Sound;

Lagan & Lough Cycle Way, Counties Antrim and Down: 34 kms that starts in Lisburn and finishes in Newtownabbey;

Newry Canal Towpath, Counties Armagh and Down: 32km greenway commencing in Portadown and finishing in Newry, County Down;

Old Rail Trail, County Meath: 40 kms asphalt greenway from Mullingar to Athlone. Part of the wider Dublin-Galway greenway route; 

Ulster Canal Greenway, County Monaghan: phase one has created almost 5kms, with a second phase (ongoing and also funded by INTERREG VA) to extend the route into County Armagh;

Waterford Greenway, County Waterford: opened in 2017, this 46km-greenway links Dungarvan to Waterford city via Kilmacthomas. In its first nine months of operation, 251,000 cyclists and walkers used it;

Waterside Greenway, Derry: begins at the Peace Bridge in Derry and encompassing Street Columb’s Park, this shared route runs parallel to the railway line to Gransha Estate.