A section of the greenway that links Castlebar to Turlough is subsiding into the Castlebar river at present, but Mayo County Council Tourism Officer Anna O’Connor says work will get underway on restoring the path this week.

Severe winter weather, with high water levels in the river impact on the greenway, and the local authority will use a bio engineering product “willow” to repair the damage.

Mayo has 80 km in total of greenway, the largest 42 km section runs from Westport to Achill, there is also a greenway in Ballina, and another in the county town.

Funding of 100,000 euro is allocated annually in Mayo county Council’s budget for Greenway Maintenance. This figure was described as inadequate by Achill based Fianna Fail councillor Paul McNamara at a recent Special policy committee on tourism.

He says if the county is serious about being an international tourist location more funding needs to be invested in facilities and maintenance along our greenways.

Ann O’Connor says the plan is to expand the greenways in the county. She says it generally takes 200km of a cycle route to attract international cyclists.

Speaking to Midwest News today she said  that in addition to the funding for maintenance of the greenways, there is also a Green Patrol that assist in keeping the routes in good condition.