HISTORY OF THE GREENWAY

The South Kerry Greenway Route encompasses some of the Ring of Kerry and Wild Atlantic Route considered one of the most Scenic Drives in the world. The 27km off road greenway with 3m-wide paved surface which will be shared between pedestrians and cyclists primarily on the route of the former railway line between Glenbeigh and Caherciveen will rival cycling tracks around the world.

The Great Southern & Western Railway route from Killorglin to Valentia Harbour was built in 1893 as an extension of the Farranfore to Killorglin line extending the rail line by 27 miles (43.4 km) to a then impoverished and isolated region which was one of the most remote parts of Ireland with no infrastructure, massive poverty, and hunger.

The railway from Valentia to Killorglin was a lifeline to the communities who used the railway until it was closed in 1960. The railway was built to serve the transportation needs of local farmers and fishermen to get their produce to market in Britain and provided a huge boost to the local economy racked with Famine, immigration and hardship. The main source of movement on the line was from Tourism and the Fishing Industry which were seasonal, Cattle Fairs and the export of the famous Cromane Mussel.

The South Kerry Railway Route was the most westerly railway line in Europe heading West through what can easily be described as some of Ireland’s most spectacular scenery as it climbed through Kerry’s mountainous countryside along the Iveragh Peninsula with views of the Atlantic across the majestic Dingle Bay for over 60 years.

Some stunning structures still remain – in its time these structures were an amazing example of engineering and the workers who faced all obstacles of terrain breaking through rock and mountain to build these tunnels and the chasm of the Viaduct of Gleesk.