First conceived as a feasibility study by the South Kerry Development Partnership in 2011, let’s have a look at how far it’s come and how far it’s got to go.
April 2014
- The SKDP welcome the announcement of €3.4 million of funding for work on the first phase of the South Kerry Greenway project.
- SKDP’s Agriculture Manager praised the landowners along the route for their positive co-operation and attitude towards the project to date.
June 2014
- Minister for Transport Alan Kelly announces €3.9 million of funding for the South Kerry Greenway.
- Construction due to start in the coming months on phase 1 of the project, the “Fertha Greenway” linking Cahersiveen to Reenard, which “will also provide a link with Valentia Island and will create an innovative loop.”
- The greenway is estimated to create 90 full time jobs in South Kerry.
November 2014
- The Irish Examiner reports that some of the 100+ landowners along the route are seeking higher payments
- Then Councillor Michael Cahill agrees noting that the council’s offer of €15,000 per acre wouldn’t be worthwhile for many; “Some people involved might be losing only a small section of their property and the payment would, therefore, be very small, which would not in any way compensate them for what they will lose,” he said. Confusingly.
2014
Key Takeaways
The extra €500,000 found between April & June is a commitment from the council to purchase the required land. Minister Alan Kelly moved departments in July 2014, a move that’s impact should not be underestimated. If the kind of out of the box thinking that could envisage an “innovative loop” between Valentia (famously an island) & Cahersiveen had spent longer on the project, who knows where we’d be now.
February 2015
- Negotiations between Kerry County Council are going well, apart from with the landowners who oppose the project.
- “If at this juncture, further negotiation and the withdrawal of the threat of a CPO would secure the agreement of all landowners along the route and this could be achieved in a timely manner having regard to the project timeframe, SKDP would support such a move.”
June 2015
- Councillor Michael Cahill feels “This has the potential to be Kerry’s greatest tourist initiative,”
- Kerry County Council’s senior staff meeting explains that the CPO(Compulsory Purchase Order) process is well underway, hoping to be completed by early 2016, construction is expected to take 12 months & should start prior to the end on 2016
- The greenway is estimated to cost €4 million, of which €3.4 million is already allocated.
2015
Key Takeaways
Imagine living in 2015? Where the greenway would be completed in 12 months & cost €4 million, comparison truly is the theif of joy. Also, the council’s €500,000 contribution has dissappeared.
March 2016
- Councillor Michael Cahill suggests to Kerry County Council that they could move sections away from the railway line in the hope of speeding up project development. The council responds with not a hope (I’m paraphrasing btw).
- The Irish Examiner reports that 23 landowners along the route are not happy and some want the greenway rerouted.
May 2016
- The Independent reports the Council are looking to buy 192 parcels of land from 179 landowners for the 27km greenway, that will cost €3.2 million to build & the council say on a coinservative estimate, it should bring in up to €7.2 million a year.
- CPO’s are an all or nothing deal, they couldn’t negotiate some deals and CPO others
- Up to 20 landowners protested a Council media briefing in Killlorglin, with some terrifying prophecies should the CPO process go ahead. One said “If tourists see a sheep or whatever they’re going to be stopped photographing the sheep”.
October 2016
- The council launch a 7 year tourism plan, including the South Kerry Greenway being extended to Killorglin.
2016
Key Takeaways
Remember that funding that was going to be lost if construction didn’t start by the end of 2016? What happened to that?
March 2017
- An Bord Pleanala rules that an environmental impact assessment for the greenway must take place
- A spokesman for the council said that the direction is unlikely to further delay the now already much delayed greenway.
May 2017
- The Council expects the greenway route to be finalised within the next fortnight and then go to public consultation.
- Councillor Johnny Healy Rae fears “the CPO could lead us to legal wrangling and derail the project”
June 2017
- Yes to cycle way, No to CPO signs begin to litter the roads along the proposed route.
- The ‘Greenway Information Group is formed, made up predominantly of South Kerry farmers.
- A farmer who’s land the route passes through comments “the council told us in February 2015 the reason they were going for a CPO was because the money had to be spent and the greenway built by 2016. We’re now into the middle of 2017 and the CPO, in my estimation, has put the deadline further out. In some places it’s coming very close to dwelling houses and farmyards and these people do have an issue and were giving alternative routes, but the council was not accepting them”
2017
Key Takeaways
Six years on from the initial feasibilty study and we are given an actual opinion as to what the landowners issues with the greenway might be.
March 2018
- The Independent reports that there is a broad welcome for the greenway which will head to planning in the coming weeks with planning granted & work commencing by October 2018.
- A day earlier, the same newspaper reported that the “row over greenway rumbles on… Minister Shane Ross confirms “the funding currently allocated to the project will not be sufficient to provide for its construction.”
April 2018
- At a meeting of the council Kerry County Council CEO Moira Murrell advises “I firmly believe that if we didn’t go down the CPO route we’d be sitting here in ten years wondering what had happened,”
July 2018
- Irish Farmers Association led protests begn, farmers stating they “will fight to the highest courts in Ireland and Europe, in a bid to prevent their lands being subjected to a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) for the South Kerry Greenway project”.
September 2018
- Kerry County Council lodges the South Kerry Greenway planning application & with it, the CPO.
- The chairman of the IFA describes the CPO as the “death knell” for the project.
december 2018
- Kerry County Council is now in a court dispute with 4 farmers over access to their lands
- The council’s senior engineer describes this access as “desirable but not essential”.
2018
Key Takeaways
Well, I wonder what the then CEO of Kerry County Council thinks now?
March 2019
- Judge David Waters refused Kerry County Council access to four separate sections of land along the South Kerry Greenway for investigation works.
- A day earlier, the same newspaper reported that the “row over greenway rumbles on… Minister Shane Ross confirms “the funding currently allocated to the project will not be sufficient to provide for its construction.”
may 2019
- An Bord Pleanála rules that further information provided by Kerry County Council to the board must be put out to public consultation.
october 2019
- An oral hearing of submissions by An Bord Pleanála is set to continue into November
- The hearing hears that the CPO of lands is estimated to cost over €5.7 million, with the project total at €22 million…
- According to the council’s appraisal, in a worst case scenario, the project will break even at year 14.
2019
Key Takeaways
At long last, a few numbers! I’m particularly fascinated by the project cost being discussed at the oral hearing without any mention of the project funding. Also break even at year 14… Which by my reckoning should be 2023.
june 2020
- An FOI request from journalist Anne Lucey & radio Kerry has shown a large number of discrepancies in project costs.
- So discrepant are these costs it seems almost unfair to mention them, but, for example, land aquisition costs up from €500.000 to €6.5 million
october 2020
- KCC have said it’s impossible to give a timeline for the development of the South Kerry Greenway until a planning decision is reached.
november 2020
- An Bord Pleanála grants planning for the South Kerry Greenway subject to 11 conditions.
- One of these conditions being that the Reenard to Cahersiveen section be omitted from the project.
2020
Key Takeaways
Planning granted, sort of, at least this now means the council can get started on the development & start giving us timelines for project completion. Doesn’t it?
january 2021
- Two legal challenges are brought agains An Bord Pleanála’s decision.
- No date is set in the High Court for these challenges
july 2021
- The High Court dismisses both legal challenges. Both legal challenges can be appealed.
august 2021
- Both legal challenges are appealed to the court of appeal, hearings likely to take place in the Autumn.
October 2021
- The High court denies permission to appeal, making the South Kerry Greenway, in the words of Radio Kerry “one step closer”.
november 2021
- Two appeals are lodged in the Supreme Court against the proposed South Kerry Greenway project.
2021
Key Takeaways
Planning not granted after all.
February 2022
- Planning granted after all. Kerry County Council said it looks forward to the commencement of construction of the greenway at the earliest opportunity.
- Councillor Norma Moriarty believes the greenway will be up and running within two years.
june 2022
- Transport Infrastructure Ireland confirm construction is expected to begin by the end of the year.
september 2022
- The council advises Minister Brendan Griffin they expect to complete the project before the end of 2025.
november 2022
- The council advises the Kenmare municipal district meeting it anticipates some sections of the greenway to be open by 2024. Construction work will begin in December.
December 2022
- Council CEO Moira Murrell advises that works on the greenway “were starting”. Re-iterates that some sections will open in 2024.
2022
Key Takeaways
Were starting is different to have started, isn’t it?
may 2023
- The vast majority of the South Kerry Greenway will be completed in early 2025. Says Transport Infrastructure Ireland in response to TD Brendan Griffin’s question.
- Councillor Norma Moriarty believes the greenway will be up and running within two years.
december 2023
- Kerry County Council says the Main Contractor for the SOuth Kerry Greenway will be appointed in mid-2024, with an estimated completion date of mid-2026.
2023
Key Takeaways
We’ve made it to our first expected completion date that could/might/maybe still happen. Exciting.
october 2024
- Public consultations are held to choose a preferred route to extend the South Kerry Greenway.
2024
Key Takeaways
Not so exciting, no phased openings, nothing.
March 2025
- €7.2 million in funding announced for the South Kerry Greenway (the 0.2 is for the section from Cahersiveen to Reenard, that doesn’t even have a proposed route yet
2025
today
Firstly, if you’ve made it this far, well done! I very much struggled to get here myself. I’ve asked every political representative we have for a progress report, the majority of them, you’ll be pleased to hear, responded. Unfortunately, the majority of those that did respond, responded with the very same cut and paste answer from the council;
Construction works are progressing well on The South Kerry Greenway.
Works are well advanced on a 5km section of the Greenway between Glenbeigh and the N70 road overbridge (L-11652) at Coolnaharragill Upper. Trailhead car parks, retaining walls and a boardwalk are the major work items that remain to be completed. Works are also well advanced on another section between Gortnagree and Kells Post Office (3.5km).
Advance works and investigative works are substantially complete for the section of Greenway between Kilkeehagh and Kells Post Office. Contract Documents are nearing completion for this section of Greenway which includes the Drung Hill Tunnels, The Gleensk Viaduct, Gabion retaining walls, The Mountain Stage Overbridge, and the N70 Underpass at Gortnagree.
The tender process has commenced for the site clearance and temporary fencing contract between the N70 Underpass at Gortnagree and Cloghanelinaghan.
Negotiations with landowners/ agents in relation to land acquisition is progressing well.
Kerry County Council and TII are considering opening sections of the South Kerry Greenway on a phased basis. This decision will be made in the coming months.
To be continued…
Excellent. Exhaustive. The injections of humour kept me going. Well done.
Thanks Tony, it’s not over yet!