LOCAL public representatives will be asked to lend their support to an ambitious plan to develop a dedicated ‘Mallow Town Loop’ walk/cycle track as part of the proposed Mallow to Dungarvan Greenway.
n March of this year, members of the public were invited to have their say on a proposal for the Greenway after funding of more than €360,000 was allocated to scope out the project, a joint initiative between Cork County and Waterford City and County councils.
It makes provision for the development of a Greenway along an almost 80km stretch of scenic countryside adjacent to the River Blackwater, roughly following the footprint of the former Mallow-Dungarvan railway line, which closed in 1961.
Should the plan go ahead, it would link up to the existing Waterford Greenway, creating a more than 125km continuous stretch of Greenway linking Mallow to the heart of Waterford City.
In a joint submission a number of Mallow and Killavullen-based community, business, cultural, sporting and leisure bodies have backed the plan, which they say could “arrest the slide in fortunes of our town and rejuvenate the wider area, that has been in decline for the last number of years.”
Notwithstanding what the submission said were “strong efforts” to revitalise the area, including the purchase of Mallow Castle and the Town Park by Cork County Council, it said that a dedicated ‘Mallow Loop’ would be a “ real game changer” for the development of the town.
It proposed that the loop route would start at Mallow railway station and before passing through the castle grounds, town park and the GAA complex in Carrigoon before heading back to the railway station via Oliver’s Cross and Ballyviniter along the footprint of the old railway line.
“The ‘Mallow Loop’ would encircle the town, providing a fantastic and deeply interesting recreational facility. It would significantly enhance Mallow as a tourism destination, with and awful lot to see and do contained within the loop,” read the submission summary.
It maintained that in addition to complimenting the plan for the Mallow Relief road, in particular its active travel component, the loop would also facilitate future infrastructural developments along its route and “help kick-start a greater sense of civic pride in Mallow”.
The submission further insisted that in terms of attracting visitors to the wider North Cork region, the loop would also bring benefits to nearby villages including Killavullen, Castletownroche and Ballyhooley and even onto Fermoy.
It insisted that the popularity of recent additions to Mallow’s offering, such as the riverside walk through the castle grounds, would indicate widespread support from within the local community for the ‘Mallow Loop’.
“In short, it would be a real game changer in the ongoing development of Mallow,” read the submission.
A representative group comprised of members of each body that contributed to the submission is due to meet with local public representatives over the coming days to seek their backing for the initiative.
It is hoped their support will help convince Cork County Council officials to lend their support to the ‘Mallow Loop’ and that it be the first element of the overall Mallow-Dungarvan Greenway.
