Great Southern Trail facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Great Southern Trail |
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|---|---|
| Length | 85 km (53 mi) |
| Location | Counties Limerick & Kerry, Ireland |
| Trailheads | Limerick, Tralee |
| Use | Cycling and Walking |
| Season | Any |
| Surface | Mud track |
| Website | http://www.southerntrail.net/ |
The Great Southern Trail is a special path being built in Limerick and Kerry, Ireland. It is a greenway that follows an old railway line. This trail is perfect for people who love to cycle and walk.
When it's finished, the trail will be 85 kilometers (about 53 miles) long. It will connect the cities of Limerick and Tralee. The path uses the route of the old Limerick-Tralee line. This railway line opened between 1867 and 1880 but closed in 1977. As of 2012, about 35 kilometers (22 miles) of the trail were already open. This open section runs between Rathkeale and Abbeyfeale. It also passes through towns like Ardagh, Newcastle West, and Barnagh.
Building the Great Southern Trail
A group of volunteers called Great Southern Trail Ltd has been working on this path for over 20 years. They have spent about €1 million (around $1.1 million US dollars) to develop it. Their hard work was recognized in 2011. The European Greenways Association gave them a special award. This award celebrated their efforts to build the greenway from 1991 to 2011.
Overcoming Challenges to Connect Communities
Building a long trail like this can have some challenges. The land for the trail is owned by the public. It belongs to CIÉ, which is Ireland's transport authority. Sometimes, there have been disagreements with local landowners. Some people living nearby were worried about the trail's use.
In early 2013, a group of walkers tried to walk the trail into County Kerry. They were celebrating 50 years since the last passenger train ran on the line. However, some local landowners stopped them at the Kerry border. They were against the trail being built further. It has since been confirmed that CIÉ owns the railway line. This means the landowners do not have a claim to the trail land.
CIÉ is now working to transfer ownership of the line to Kerry County Council. This will help with further development of the trail towards Listowel. More funding will be needed to complete this part of the project.
