THE opportunities are endless for an Enniskillen to Sligo Greenway, and now is the the time for representatives on both sides of the Border to push for it to become a reality – that’s according to a Leitrim county councillor.

The greenway proposal comprises a 72km route heading west from Enniskillen, under the shadow of Belmore Mountain, turning through Belcoo and Blacklion and then on towards Sligo.

Sean McDermott, a Fine Gael Councillor from Glenfarne, believes there are huge possibilities for tourism along the greenway.

The greenway was specifically named in New Decade, New Approach, while the Republic’s government has set aside €500,000 to progress cross-Border infrastructural projects such as the Enniskillen to Sligo Greenway.

“It’s in the programme for Government, North and South, so we have a starting point,” said Councillor McDermott.

‘Momentum’

“But it still needs momentum to make it happen because, you know, the potential is enormous, and I firmly believe that there are so many tourism centres from Enniskillen to Sligo, and it’s amazing what could happen.”

A demonstration stretch of the greenway was opened in Manorhamilton before Christmas last year, and Councillor McDermott believes another demonstration stretch between Enniskillen and Belcoo would be a positive next step in showing the potential for the full route.

And with businesses along the route rowing in behind the project, there would be opportunities for the local communities, he said.

“We know that there’re 20-30 million Europeans looking to go for a holiday, cycling and walking.

“They’re not looking towards the island of Ireland, because we don’t have the greenways joined up, or they’re not long enough to give a person a week or two weeks’ holiday.

“We are falling behind, because we haven’t enough [of such destination routes] even though we’re a green country. People want to walk and cycle, yet we’re very slow in in developing our greenways.

“There is a tourism product there that has to be developed to encourage these people from abroad to come into the island of Ireland.”

In 2020, The Department for Infrastructure (DfI) announced £2.8m of funding for six greenways in Northern Ireland; however, the Enniskillen to Sligo route received no money.

The Department said it wrote to all councils on July 2, 2020, seeking details of greenway projects which were ready to be taken forward to construction this year.

In response to a question about greenways plans posed by The Impartial Reporter, a spokesperson for Fermanagh and Omagh District Council said the Council is currently at an early stage in the potential development of greenways in the district.

They added: “Initial feasibility studies on a number of routes were completed a number of years ago with economic appraisals currently being undertaken in relation to four routes, including Enniskillen to Belcoo, Belleek to Ballyshannon, Enniskillen to Clones, and Omagh to Carrickmore.”

Unhappy

Sinn Féin MLA, Jemma Dolan, was unhappy with what she believes were decisions looking towards “large centres of populations”, and not to more rural areas such as Fermanagh.

“Instead of choosing to give any money to Fermanagh and Omagh Council to help develop the greenway route from Belcoo to Enniskillen, she [Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon] chose to spend the £2.8 million on shovel-ready projects in four councils.

“I have put in a further question to the Minister [Mallon] looking for a full breakdown of the £2.8m spend.

“The Enniskillen to Sligo greenway plan is a golden opportunity to boost Fermanagh’s tourism project,” added Ms. Dolan.

Councillor McDermott admitted he was disappointed that nothing came from that funding from DfI for the greenway, but wants plans to be at the forefront of discussions, moving forward.