Galway farmers will consider blocking development of a coast-to-coast Greenway route should the Government continue with its current plan.

The 280km route, which is in development, would see a cycling route and walkway built from Dublin to Galway. The plan was announced by former tourism minister Leo Varadkar in 2012.

The greenway is being built in 12 sections stretching from Guild Street in Dublin to Galway city. Plans for the Galway section of the Greenway are nearing the construction stage, but farmers and landowners have expressed grave concerns. The preferred route in Galway would see the 10m-wide track constructed through dozens of farms. Seamus Quigley is a dairy farmer based in Loughrea and the current proposal would see the Greenway route dissect more than 10 fields as well as running right through his farmyard.

“Every other cycle route in Ireland has been constructed alongside existing roadways, canals and disused rail lines, without disrupting farming operations and with the consent and goodwill of the local landowners and communities,” he said.

“However, when it comes to the greenway through Galway, it is proposed to put up to a 10m wide cycleway straight through the middle of productive farms, putting their viability at serious risk.”

Quigley, who runs a dairy farm in Loughrea, added: “This has very serious implications for my business as the proposed route goes straight through the farm, crossing four different cow tracts, which would make access to fields unworkable.”

A meeting held in Oranmore on Monday night was attended by approximately 150 farmers as well as four Galway West TDs and a number of councillors. Each farmer expressed serious concern over the plans, with some even vowing to block any development.

Serious concerns

There were also serious concerns over how the land would be acquired, with the Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) process being considered.

Galway West TD Noel Grealish also said that he would not allow the CPO of land to take place.

“We cannot allow that (the CPO of farm lands) to happen, it simply can’t,” Grealish said.

“There would be serious consequences for the long-term viability of some of these farmers in the area here if we allowed that to happen. It is critical that farmers hold on to their lands,” he added.