The Royal Canal Greenway is a greenway, in Ireland, which will become part of the western section of EuroVelo EV2, and the Dublin-Galway Greenway.[2][3][4][5][6] Since its official opening in March 2021, it is the longest greenway in Ireland.[7] It spans from Maynooth County Kildare to Longford and Cloondara, County Longford[8] passing through counties Meath and Westmeath.

Royal Canal Greenway
Royal Canal east of D'Arcy's bridge, County Westmeath
Length130km[1]
LocationMaynooth-Longford and Cloondara, Ireland
TrailheadsMaynooth, County Kildare
Longford town
Cloondara, County Longford
UseHiking, Cycling
Map of the EuroVelo 2 route.

Sections

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The greenway uses the routes of former towpaths of the Royal Canal.

The route makes up most of the older Royal Canal Way which links Ashtown, Dublin to Longford and Cloondara along the Royal Canal.

The official "starting" point for the Greenway is at Maynooth harbour,[9] 28 km from the Eastern end of the Greenway; but works are either in planning, under construction or completed along the entire length of the Royal Canal Way.

 
 

Development

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The development of the greenway, by Waterways Ireland with the local authorities along the route, was supported by government departments for Local Government, Tourism and Public Expenditure.[10][11][12]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Greenways". Waterways Ireland. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  2. ^ "Latest section of Dublin-Galway coast-to-coast Greenway opens - Varadkar". DTTAS.ie. 27 June 2014. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  3. ^ "Local councillors had a chance to check on the progress of the Greenway cycleway project as works reached Moate last week". Athlone Advertiser. 18 December 2014. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
  4. ^ Kelly, Olivia (12 March 2015). "Plan unveiled for €10m-plus Royal Canal cycle path". Irish Times. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
  5. ^ Melia, Paul (27 June 2014). "Wheels in motion for 280km coast-to-coast cycle route". Irish Independent. Dublin.
  6. ^ "Galway to Dublin greenway could be finished in five years". IrishCycle.com. 27 June 2014. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  7. ^ O'Brien, Tim. "Walk, cycle or fly – the 130km Royal Canal Greenway to open this summer". The Irish Times. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  8. ^ "News: Ring opens Royal Canal Greenway". TheIrishField.ie. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  9. ^ "Maynooth Harbour | Royal Canal Greenway". RoyalCanalGreenway.ie. Archived from the original on 28 August 2019. Retrieved 25 March 2021 – via web.archive.org.
  10. ^ "Ministers Launch the Strategy for the future development of National and Regional Greenways" (Press release). Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. 19 July 2018. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  11. ^ "Royal Canal Greenway "will transform region"". Westmeath Topic. 10 March 2021. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  12. ^ "€1m Funding Package Announced For Royal Canal Greenway's Second Phase". Afloat.ie. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
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53°22′42″N 6°35′25″W / 53.378261°N 6.590205°W / 53.378261; -6.590205 (Maynooth harbour, Royal Canal Greenway trailhead)