A significant shift in support by farmers and landowners could see plans to complete Ireland’s longest public greenway in Connemara submitted for approval this year.

Galway County Council’s determination to avoid compulsory purchase orders (CPOs) has been welcomed by the Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association (INHFA), which says there is widespread support for completing the 76km route along the former Galway to Clifden rail line.

Planning approval has already been secured for the western section from Oughterard to Clifden, with 10km completed and 3.5km still under construction.

Galway County Council has applied for funding for “further sections” – as in the more controversial city section west via Moycullen, which has been the subject of local concerns.

Many of these concerns have now been met, with the council negotiating with landowners on permissive access and compensation for disturbance to the movement of cattle, sheep and horses.

No set rate has been agreed, as circumstances and situations vary, according to the local authority.

An agronomist with RPS Consulting Engineers has been contracted to visit landowners on the Galway to Oughterard section.

“There can be a myriad of problems for farmers with livestock on both sides of the route, but they are not insurmountable,” INHFA spokesman and Forum Connemara rural recreation officer Brendan O’Malley said.

He credits Galway County Council with an enlightened approach, which aims to avoid a situation like the proposed South Kerry greenway.

Kerry County Council’s decision to issue CPOs has been criticised by farming organisations, with the IFA lodging an objection to its planning application for its 32km greenway involving almost 200 CPOs.

Moycullen-based Fianna Fáil councillor Noel Thomas said that many originally opposed to the Connemara project could see the merits now.

A small group of farmers still had concerns about anti-social behaviour, but consultations with the Waterford greenway group had shown that these concerns were not valid, he said.

Karen Mannion, whose husband Peter Davitt gave permissive access for the Ballynahinch section, said that it was an enormous benefit to the community. “It is very social now, as neighbours and their kids are out on it. It is far safer than the road,” she pointed out.