Support for Greenway
SLIGO Greenway Co-op held a breakfast briefing recently to give local business in South Sligo an opportunity to show their support for the possibility of creating a Greenway within the County. The event was well attended and widespread support was indicated for the project which will see a 35km Greenway developed on the disused railway line running between Collooney and Bellaghy.
Speaking at the briefing, John McCarrick, Secretary of the Community Co-op urged businesses in the region to come behind the project to ensure its best chance of success. Business were asked to pledge funds to help meet essential costs that will be involved in the funding application process to Government. The deadline for this process is November 30 th this year. Attendees at the event included businesses involved in tourism, retail, services and the hospitality sector. This event held at the Yeats County Inn Hotel at Curry is the first in a succession of such events that will take place in the coming weeks. The funding application for the Greenway will be made by Sligo Co Co as part of the new strategy for Greenway development in Ireland. The current fund available is €53 million of which the Sligo Greenway requires €5.3 million. This cost has an estimated payback time of just two years for the region.
Mr A. J.Hession presented a cheque on behalf of the South West Sligo Tourism Committee to Mr Pat McCarrick Chairman of The Sligo Greenway Co- Op
A. J. said “We have presented this cheque to show our support for the Greenway. It is a very exciting time as there is now an increased appetite to progress Tourism and the Greenway in Co Sligo.
“We intend to work with the Greenway Committee to enhance the huge potential for Tourism in our county as working together is the only way forward,” he added.