Blueway called for in East Cork

There was a great reaction from county councillors to the call this week for a blueway in East Cork.

Although Cork County Council said it has no plans for one as at the moment, the idea which came from Sinn Féin’s Danielle Twomey, was hailed as a great one with councillors from a cross section of parties.

Cllr Twomey said: “The East Cork coastline is one of the finest and underutilised coastlines in Cork county and there has been a cry from the public to develop this in East Cork with public meetings due to held this month to initial engage public interest in developing this.”

She added: “I would like to see Cork County Council get on board and really support this proposal by conducting a feasibility study. The concept is being developed by a group of about 20 members currently working to develop a new route which has the potential to open up the entire East Cork peninsular region with the intention of opening it up to the greenway.”

She said this would benefit areas in East Cork that are not directly benefiting from the greenway in East Cork.

Independent Cllr Noel Collins that a blueway would provide “pleasant and recreational therapy” for people in the area.

Liam Quaide with the Green Party described it as an “excellent idea”.

Cllr Quaide added: “It would have major health benefits for the health and wellbeing of people.”

Sinn Féin Cllr Paul Hayes said it was a very worthwhile motion given that Cork has the largest coastline in the country.

Niall Healy, Head of Municipal district Operations and Rural Development, said that there was no immediate plans to develop a blueway in East Cork. He added: “The council’s recreational priority in East Cork is the Midleton to Youghal Greenway. The council has developed a blueway from Skibbereen to Baltimore. In North Cork, work has started on the development of a blueway from Mallow to Killavullen. In time the use of this blueway will be assessed before any decision is made to extend it further on the Blackwater River.”

Meanwhile Fáilte Ireland is currently developing a new policy document on blueways which will direct how they are developed into the future.Niamh Áine Ryan

naryan@corkindependent.com