Plans for the long-awaited Sligo Greenway between Collooney and Bellaghy have received a major boost, after Iarnród Éireann reversed its previous position and agreed to facilitate the development of the route along the disused railway line.

The decision potentially brings the 35km Greenway project back to life, less than a year after Sligo County Council suspended work on the scheme.

The proposed Greenway would run from Collooney to Bellaghy, passing through south Sligo and providing a new walking and cycling route through the county.

What has changed?

The disused railway alignment had previously been identified by Sligo County Council as the preferred corridor for the Greenway.

However, during public consultation in late 2024, Iarnród Éireann informed the Council that it could no longer support use of the railway alignment and instead suggested developing a Greenway alongside it.

That alternative presented significant difficulties.

A review by Sligo County Council found that an alongside route would affect approximately 250 privately owned land parcels, require land acquisition along more than 70% of the route and cost at least 22% more than developing the Greenway along the railway alignment.

With the preferred route unavailable and the alternative considered unviable, the Council suspended further work on the project in December 2025.

Now, that key obstacle has been removed.

Iarnród Éireann has confirmed that it has agreed to licence the disused railway alignment between Bellaghy and Collooney to Sligo County Council to support the development of the Greenway.

Greenway while protecting the railway corridor

Importantly, the railway lands will remain in the ownership of Iarnród Éireann.

The arrangement is intended to allow the corridor to be used as a Greenway while retaining the possibility of restoring rail services along the route in the future.

Iarnród Éireann has said it recognises the merits of the Greenway proposal in the absence of specific medium-term plans to reopen this section of railway.

The organisation will now work with Sligo County Council on the route, with the aim of minimising private land acquisition and additional costs.

What happens next?

While today’s announcement is a significant step forward, there is still a considerable process ahead before construction can begin.

Sligo County Council has confirmed that it remains committed to progressing the project and will now work with Iarnród Éireann to finalise the licence agreement.

Once the Options Selection Phase has been completed, the project can progress through design, environmental evaluation and the planning process, in collaboration with Transport Infrastructure Ireland.

The Greenway therefore isn’t ready for construction just yet, but the reversal removes the issue which resulted in the project being suspended last year.

Potential 35km Greenway for south Sligo

The Sligo Greenway has been under discussion since 2014 and would create approximately 35km of walking and cycling infrastructure between Collooney and Bellaghy.

If delivered, the route could also eventually connect with the proposed Sligo, Leitrim and Northern Counties Railway Greenway at Collooney, creating the potential for a much larger regional Greenway network.

After more than a decade of campaigning and a major setback last year, the latest announcement represents one of the most significant developments yet for the Sligo Greenway.

For supporters of the project, the focus will now turn to getting the scheme through its remaining design, environmental and planning stages and ultimately towards construction.

Greenways Ireland will continue to follow the progress of the Sligo Greenway as the project moves forward.