Welcome to the Deise Greenway, County Waterford
The Deise Greenway
County Waterford
Ireland
Irish Landscape Photography : Nigel Borrington
The Waterford / Deise Greenway
The Amazing new Deise Greenway is almost completed and for anyone who has not heard about this new public cycle and walking path in county Waterford Ireland, here is some basic information !
The History of the Greenway – A Railway history
Waterford to Dungarvan
The Railway Line from Dungarvan to Waterford was constructed during the 1870’s and was officially opened on the 12th August 1878 with the first train departing Waterford at 10.10 and arriving at Durrow just over an hour later.
The building of the Railway was a remarkable project in that it had to be contructed over very harsh terrain. From the Dungarvan side, two causeways had to be contructed, one over the Colligan estuary and one through the sea at Barnawee, a very impressive viaduct has to be built at Ballyvoile and an even more impressive tunnel, 480 yards long, fully lined was constructed just a little further down the line. Another viaduct at Kilminnion and an almost 100 feet high curved viaduct at Kilmacthomas to name just a few. It headed down towards the lovely station at Kilmeaden and then on the riverbank of the River Suir below Mount Congreve into Waterford City.
The Railway line was not just of national importance, it was also our line with the UK with many Irish people emigrating there but many used it to come over and back. In March 1967, the last passenger train left Dungarvan station for Rosslare. But it reopened again with the opening of the Magnesite ore processing plant at Ballinacourty but this plant closed in 1982. Engineers ran occasional locomotives on the line up until 1990.
CIE own the line but Waterford County Council acquired a license from them at the start of this century to make it into a pedestrian walkway/cycle path for tourism and leisure.
It has impressive history, a history we can not neglect by not taking an interest in the line, we need to preserve it for the people as an amenity for the people.
Rebirth of the rail line – The Deise Greenway
The Deise Greenway is almost complete so last weekend we took a walk along the section from Ballyvoyle brick-lined tunnel down to Dungarvan Bay. This section of the route is just fantastic to walk as it induces the Ballyvoyal tunnel and viaduct and then the wonderful views of the waterford coastline above the town of Dungarvan.
Below are some of the pictures I took on Sunday ……
Gallery
Nigel Borrington 
So lovely~
August 31, 2016 at 5:47 pm
Hi Cindy 🙂
Thank you very pleased that you enjoyed 🙂 🙂
September 1, 2016 at 10:52 am
Spectacular views at the end! Love the tunnel shots too. In the US we have an organization called Rails to Trails http://www.railstotrails.org/ that was formed in 1986 and since then has converted at least 1000 rail ways to trail ways across the country. Some are only a mile or so, others 30 or more. It’s a great way to build community and create multi-use paths for millions of people to explore and enjoy.
August 31, 2016 at 7:00 pm
Hi Alli 🙂
Thank you for Sharing this great link 🙂 🙂 , its so great that the old rail line are getting a new life , I love the fact that they are going from being used by old technology to Health and Mental Health uses, This is only just started here in Ireland, it will be fantastic to see many many more trails open up – SO good for Local people 🙂 🙂
September 1, 2016 at 10:55 am
Nigel, I love your historical account. I also love great photographs steeped in rich history. Thank you so much for another great read.
August 31, 2016 at 8:27 pm
Hi Sue 🙂
Thank you , A pleasure to share 🙂 🙂
September 1, 2016 at 10:56 am
Beautiful shots. That first one looks like the road to possibilities. Such an interesting read, Nigel.
September 1, 2016 at 7:19 pm