Opened in the presence of Cllr. Gerry McMonagle, Leas-Chathaoirleach of Donegal County Council, the greenways were constructed as part of the North West Greenway Network Project. This project will deliver a 46.5 kilometre network of cross border Greenways delivered by Donegal County Council in partnership with Derry City and Strabane District Council, Transport NI and Sustrans.
The Quigleys Point Greenway extends for 5km, connecting Muff to the Three Trees area near Quigleys Point. It builds upon the existing 2.5km Greenway in Muff, which is a segment of the North-West Greenway Network project. This initiative not only links Muff to Quigleys Point but also establishes a pathway leading to the centre of L'Derry city.
The Lifford to Castlefinn Greenway spans 7.5km, establishing new greenway infrastructure that connects Castlefinn to the border town of Lifford. It integrates with the existing 2.3km greenway infrastructure in Lifford, a component of the North-West Greenway Network project and also links to the 11.2km network in the Strabane area, which is part of the same initiative.
This project represents an investment of approximately €34M across both council areas and is primarily funded by the INTERREG VA programme administered by the Special European Union Programmes Body (SEUPB) and with the Donegal elements of the project also co-funded by the Department of Transport and Donegal County Council.
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Events were held in Naomh Padraig Uisec Chaoin GAA Club and in the CPI Centre in Castlefinn to mark the occasion which were attended by Minister Charlie McConalogue, local Oireachtas members, Members of Donegal County Council, representatives from Derry City and Strabane District Council, the SEUPB, members of the local community, children from nearby schools and staff from the teams that delivered the project.
Minister Chambers said: "The opening of the Donegal sections of the North-West Greenway represents an exciting development for the North-West Region. This cross-border Greenway project has received significant financial support via the INTERREG VA programme which has provided approximately €21.5m with the Department of Transport providing approximately €3m in 2024 to support this project. This project is an exemplar initiative of cross border collaboration with Donegal County Council and Derry City and Strabane District Council working together to realise 46.5km of segregated cycle lanes. This project has resulted in two separate Greenway routes connecting Derry to County Donegal. These routes will encourage greater levels of travel via cycling and walking rather than private car use amongst leisure users, tourists, and commuters. In addition, this project will help to ensure coherent cycling infrastructure for individuals travelling between the two jurisdictions. The investment by the Department of Transport to date signals the Government’s commitment to providing high-quality cycle infrastructure that will generate many benefits for cyclists and communities across Ireland."
Leas-Cathaoirleach for Donegal County Council Cllr Gerry McMonagle thanked SEUPB and the Department of Transport for the investment and paid tribute to the work undertaken. He said: "This is a proud day for the people of Donegal, I would like to praise the staff from Donegal County Council and the contractors who worked in partnership to swiftly deliver these new Greenways, the quality of the workmanship is evident as we stand here today and is a credit to all involved in the project."
With the opening of the Muff to Quigleys Point and Lifford to Castlefinn Greenways, County Donegal has added 17.3km to its greenway network under the North-West Greenway Project. Additionally, plans are underway for an additional 220km of greenway network funded by Transport Infrastructure Ireland in County Donegal, currently advancing through the design phase.
