Latest news with #SLNCR
Irish Independent
12-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
New report highlights ‘transformative potential' of Sligo to Enniskillen Greenway project
The report, titled 'An economic vision for the Sligo to Enniskillen Greenway (SLNCR)' is designed as a working document to inform future planning and funding strategies, rather than a fixed plan or guarantee of outcomes. The report was developed by Sligo County Council as lead, in partnership with Leitrim County Council, Cavan County Council, and Fermanagh/Omagh District Council. The study, funded under a successful application to the Shared Island Development funding initiative, and prepared by Urban Foresight, highlights the proposed greenway's potential to support rural development, sustainable tourism, and local enterprise along the route. It offers a practical framework for how local authorities, businesses, and communities might plan for and respond to the potential opportunities which may be presented by the project. While the greenway infrastructure is still at an early stage, the economic vision allows early considerations develop for business and communities in the region to look at possible projects and enterprises linked with the greenway on transport, accommodation, food, and other local and cultural facilities and experiences. It should be noted that the study is not taking any position on route selection and is focusing only on the opportunities that could emerge from a greenway. The report highlights how the SLNCR Greenway can become a powerful engine for sustainable rural development by attracting visitors, supporting local businesses, and opening new investment opportunities. 'This greenway is not just a route—it's a pathway to economic and community revitalisation,' said Cllr Casserly. 'It offers a unique opportunity to connect towns and villages, attract new types of visitors, and create vibrant local economies.' The greenway will likely cater to a wide range of users, from families and casual walkers to more serious cyclists, with particular focus on ebikes—a rapidly growing sector that suits the region's terrain and accessibility goals. Key opportunities identified for local businesses include: New footfall for cafés, pubs, and restaurants near the route, increased demand for bike hire, ebike services, and accessible cycling, opportunities for tour operators and activity providers, boosts to accommodation, transport services, and retail and spillover benefits for attractions, events, and remote working tourism. ADVERTISEMENT Learn more To maximise its impact, the report identifies nine key conditions for success, including strong branding, public-private collaboration, enhanced cycling and transport infrastructure, cultural investment, and protection of the natural environment. 'This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity,' said Cllr Casserly. 'We must work together—local councils, communities, and businesses—to ensure the SLNCR Greenway delivers lasting social and economic benefits.' Cllr Casserly also welcomed the report's call for a clear marketing strategy and a strong, unified brand that highlights the greenway's identity as an 'accessible wilderness'—a place for healthy, family-friendly, sustainable adventure. Public engagement will play a central role in naming and shaping the route, with a transparent process to ensure community voices are heard and reflected in the final identity. Cllr Casserly added: 'The SLNCR Greenway will be more than a journey through our landscape—it will be a journey towards a stronger, greener, more connected regional economy.' This project is to provide a greenway from Sligo town to Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh, passing through Collooney, Ballintogher, Dromahair, Manorhamilton, Glenfarne, Blacklion, Belcoo and Letterbreen on the way. The project is named after the Sligo, Leitrim and Northern Counties Railway (SLNCR) which operated as a 75 km railway line linking Enniskillen in Co. Fermanagh to Collooney, Co. Sligo where it connected with the Sligo-Dublin line. The report has now been made public and copies are available through the Local Community Development Committee of Sligo County Council.
Irish Independent
12-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Farmers will oppose any severance of farms or compulsory purchase orders for SLNCR greenway
These were raised at a meeting with officials from Leitrim and Sligo County Councils as well as ARUP Project Consultants in Sligo last week. In a joint statement, the Chair of Sligo IFA Michael O'Dowd and Leitrim IFA Chair Liam Gilligan said the IFA made it very clear that Greenway projects like the SLNCR should maximise the use of public lands and minimise the impact on private lands, in line with the Government Strategy for the Future Development of Greenways and the Greenways Code of Best Practice. 'This is clearly not the case with the proposed Sligo/Leitrim Greenway as the vast majority of the lands on the emerging proposed route are not public or state-owned lands and is in fact farmland as confirmed to IFA by the Project Consultants. This is unacceptable and extremely challenging for the landowners.' The Sligo and Leitrim IFA County Chairs made it very clear to the project promoters that IFA is opposed to any severance of farms or compulsory purchase orders (CPOs) for amenity projects like Greenways. Sligo IFA Chair Michael O'Dowd said 'The IFA pointed out to the County Councils that the proposed emerging preferred corridor for the Sligo/Leitrim Greenway will predominantly take private lands and have the potential to sever and divide a large number of the farms and this is totally unacceptable. Severance and division of farms will not work and must be reviewed by the Councils'. Leitrim IFA Chair Liam Gilligan said the proposed emerging corridor put forward by the Councils at the meeting is to follow the old railway route. However, in practice farmers now farm and use most of the land where the abandoned railway line was. The reality is this is no longer a rail line and is now part of active farms and may include houses and farmyards. Some farmers have registered their ownership of the land where the railway line previously ran. Liam Gilligan said, 'the old, abandoned railway line is long gone, and this land is now active farmland, with some in private ownership, making it unsuitable for a Greenway'. He encouraged all farmers along the proposed emerging route of the old railway to check out the ownership situation and if they need to register their ownership, they should take steps to do so. As part of the Code of Practice for Greenways, project promoters can contribute a sum of €750 plus Vat towards the vouched legal fees incurred by farmers in regularising their title to the standard required. ADVERTISEMENT Learn more IFA made a submission to the Councils previously on the Greenway highlighting a number of additional farmer concerns including privacy, safety and security, anti-social behaviour, litter, animal disease and wildlife, and other issues. Representatives from ARUP and both county councils updated the IFA on the project and the emerging preferred corridor, which is up to 200m wide. Over the next 18 months, the project promoters will be working to reduce the design of the corridor down to 8-10m wide. It is the intention to apply for planning permission in Q1/Q2 2027. Currently the project is on public consultation number three, which is set to close on May 27th. Over the next 12 to 18 months the project promoters have said they will engage closely with all landowners. The IFA said it is very important that farmers and landowners clearly outline their views, objections and concerns about the Greenway during the current consultation and also in direct contact with the project promoters. The web site for the project is Michael O' Dowd and Liam Gilligan said the meeting provided a good opportunity for the IFA to outline the serious concerns of farmers and also provided the project team with an in-depth understanding of the fears and concerns of farmers regarding the proposed Greenway and how it could impact very significantly on their property and businesses. Leitrim County Council, in partnership with Sligo County Council, Cavan County Council, Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, under the auspices of transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) and Department for Infrastructure (Dfl) are developing the Sligo, Leitrim, Northern counties Railway (SLNCR) Greenway. The proposed project is to provide a Greenway from Sligo town to Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh, passing through Ballysadare, Collooney, Ballintogher, Dromahair, Manorhamilton, Glenfarne, Blacklion, Belcoo and Letterbreen on the way.
