Consultants to assess possibility of running Collooney-Bellaghy Greenway parallel to Sligo/Galway rail line

By Philip Rooney, The Sligo Champion

A proposed Greenway from Collooney to Bellaghy doesn’t appear to be going on the Sligo to Galway rail line.

Monday’s meeting of Sligo County Council was told consultants will be assessing a route parallel to the rail track.

This would be in keeping with the position of Irish Rail who want to preserve the line for its re-opening.

The update was provided at this week’s annual budget meeting of the council with Director of Services Emer Concannon stating assessments that are currently ongoing will be completed by the end of the year.

Replying to Cllr Bree, Director of Services, Emer Concannon said: “Our consultants are carrying out an assessment currently on a route parallel to the railway. Its an engineering assessment on a route parallel to the railway line and this will determine the viability of developing a route parallel to the railway. This assessment will be completed by the end of this year.”

Cllr Bree had earlier asked for an update in relation to the proposed greenway in relation to design and environmental evaluation and when a preferred route would be decided upon.

Welcoming the reply to his question, Cllr Bree said, “It is widely acknowledged that greenways encourage people to cycle or walk to short distance locations and I believe all of us are anxious to see progress on the proposed Collooney to Bellaghy greenway.

“The challenge for us is to ensure that investment in the greenway is done in a way that delivers the greatest benefits for the area in which it is located and that the greenway once developed is permanent.

“It certainly is very positive that Iarnrod Eireann is prepared to co-operate and engage with the Council to explore the development of the proposed greenway on a route that is a safe distance from the existing Western Rail Corridor.

“I believe that we owe Iarnrod Eireann a debt of gratitude for their offer of assistance and that we seek their co-operation if required.

“It is now important that the consultants complete their work on the preferred route and that we maintain pressure on government to ensure that the necessary funding is provided to develop the proposed greenway from Collooney to Bellaghy.”

In a statement, Sligo County Council said: “The Sligo Greenway project remains at the Options Selection stage. The Emerging Preferred Corridor, centred on the disused railway line was identified and published for public consultation in November 2024.

"Following correspondence from the Chief Executive of Iarnród Éireann dated 6th June 2025, confirming that the organisation is not in a position to support the use of the existing disused railway alignment at this time for the Greenway, an Engineering Assessment is being carried out to determine the viability of an option parallel to the railway line. This assessment will be completed by the end of 2025.”

Article Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.