The Limerick Greenway, also known as the Great Southern Trail after the name of the original rail route that went from Limerick to Tralee, is a 39km off-road trail between Rathkeale and Abbeyfeale, with plans to extend it as far as Listowel later this year. This is a journey through ancient Irish heritage, taking in five original cut-stone bridges, the medieval Desmond Castle and the Irish Palatine Heritage Museum in Rathkeale in the former station. The nearest connection by train today is in Limerick city, though this is 31km from the greenway. You can, however, travel with Bus Eireann to Rathkeale, Newcastle West and Abbeyfeale, with bike rental at the Greenway’s Barnagh hub. Or you can put your own bike on the bus for a €10 fee.
The longest off-road trail in Ireland (not on a former rail route), the Royal Canal Greenway stretches 130km from Maynooth to the village of Cloondara in County Longford, where the Canal meets the River Shannon. Although you do need to get off and push at some of the town hubs, its main access points are at Maynooth, Enfield, Mullingar, Cloondara and Longford town. There are bike rental spots and train stations in all of these towns too. Criss-crossing the canal at various points, a journey along the Greenway also takes you along a cultural cross-section of Ireland’s Midlands, with highlights including the historic market town of Mullingar, Enfield and the Boyne Valley, as well as many locks and canal heritage en route.
It’s not such a long way to Tipperary along the county’s Suir Blueway. Although it gives off-road, riverside access to cyclists for 21km between Carrick-on-Suir and Clonmel, kayakers and canoeists can also access the trail for an additional 32km of the River Suir. Heritage highlights along the way include the exquisite Elizabethan Ormond Castle in Carrick-on-Suir, and one of the best preserved medieval castles at Clonmel. Access the route by train at both ends of the Blueway, with bike rental at Blueway Bike Hire in Carrick-on-Suir.
The Suir Blueway is one of three that have recently become the first accredited blueways in Ireland, meaning they are now considered world-class destinations for water-based and water-side activities. The others are the Boyne Blueway in Trim, County Meath, and the Lough Derg Blueway, which traverses counties Clare, Tipperary and Galway.
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