East Mayo Greenway Group want council to reconsider position on rail line north of Claremorris
THE East Mayo Greenway Group (EMG) has welcomed the recent decision by Irish Rail to release the closed railway corridor from Bellaghy, near Charlestown, to Collooney in Co. Sligo for development as a greenway, under arrangements that safeguard the route should rail services become viable in the future.
The group is now calling on Mayo County Council to reconsider its position regarding the closed railway line north of Claremorris and to examine the opportunities that a similar approach could bring for Mayo.
Speaking on behalf of the group, David Malee said: "We hope Mayo County Council will take into account the views of the thousands of people who support the principle of 'Greenway Now, Railway When Possible'. More than 26,000 people have signed a petition supporting this approach. It is encouraging to see Sligo County Council, Irish Rail and Transport Infrastructure Ireland working together to advance this project.”
He continued: “We believe the debate around greenway versus railway must move beyond emotion and focus instead on practical realities and the evidence available. The question is not whether people support rail. The question is what can realistically be delivered in the foreseeable future while protecting this valuable public corridor."
The Sligo Greenway could be connected at Charlestown to an East Mayo Greenway on the closed railway route, and then to the Great Western Greenway. The opportunity for tourism throughout the west and north west is huge and should not be missed.
The East Mayo Greenway Group is urging Mayo County Council to consider the following:
1. The route has been closed for over 50 years
The railway north of Claremorris closed to both passenger and freight services in 1975 and has been out of use for more than five decades. During that time, significant encroachment has occurred along parts of the route.
2. Previous studies raised serious concerns
In 2005, the route was assessed as part of the first government-commissioned study on the Western Rail Corridor. The McCann Report concluded that reopening the Claremorris to Collooney section would be particularly difficult to justify due to the large number of level and accommodation crossings, estimated at 290 in total, the original light railway characteristics of the route, and the substantial costs involved in upgrading the corridor to modern railway standards.
3. Further rail reviews mean more waiting
The All-Island Strategic Rail Review (AISRR) examined future rail connectivity north of Claremorris towards Sligo. However, the review itself is expected to be revisited in the years ahead. Local communities cannot afford to wait indefinitely for another review process before seeing any benefit from this publicly owned corridor.
4. The existing alignment faces significant challenges
The AISRR highlighted substantial constraints associated with the closed railway route. It suggested that any future consideration of a Galway to Sligo rail connection would likely require examination of new alignments and alternative solutions rather than relying solely on the existing corridor.
Even if a railway were to be considered north of Claremorris in the future, the challenges associated with the current alignment remain significant.
5. A greenway protects the corridor
Developing a greenway would ensure the route remains in public ownership and actively managed, helping to prevent further encroachment on land owned by Irish Rail.
Importantly, a greenway developed under a lease arrangement does not remove the possibility of future rail use should that ever become viable.
6. Existing Mayo County Council policy already supports similar use
The 'Greenway Now, Railway When Possible' approach is consistent with Mayo County Council's support for the Kiltimagh Velorail project, which operates on a section of the closed railway line north of Kiltimagh.
Like the proposed Sligo greenway, the velorail operates under a fixed-term agreement with Irish Rail that can be terminated if the corridor is required for railway purposes in the future.
The existing track used by the velorail would not be suitable for a modern railway and would have to be replaced entirely in any future rail project. In this respect, the velorail already demonstrates how recreational use can coexist with long-term protection of the railway corridor.
7. The upcoming velorail licence renewal raises questions
The velorail's current licence is due for renewal in 2027. If Irish Rail grants a further 12-year extension, it would send a clear signal that there are no immediate plans to reinstate rail services on the route.
If a velorail operation is considered compatible with future rail ambitions, then the same principle should apply to a greenway.
DISCUSSION
The East Mayo Greenway Group is calling on those advocating for a direct Galway to Sligo railway via Claremorris to carefully examine both the historic assessments and the recommendations contained within the All-Island Strategic Rail Review before assuming that the existing Claremorris to Collooney alignment remains a realistic option for modern rail development.
The group believes that a greenway can deliver immediate economic, tourism, health and community benefits while preserving the public corridor for any future transport requirements.