Suck Valley Way
The Suck Valley Way is a long-distance trail in Connaught running through two counties: Roscommon and Galway. It is circular route 65 miles long that begins and ends in Castlerea, County Roscommon. It is typically completed in five days.[1]
The route is designated as a 'National Waymarked Trail' by the National Trails Office and is managed by Roscommon County Council, Roscommon Integrated Development Company and the Suck Valley Committee.[2]
The Way was devised by the River Suck Valley Development Cooperative, which was formed in 1991 to develop tourism in the region.[3] It took three years to develop, at a cost of £IRL80,000, £46,000 of which was grant-aided by Bord Fáilte.[4] It was officially opened in May 1997.[3]
The route
The trail circles the countryside around the valley of the River Suck south of Castlerea, which straddles the border between Counties Roscommon and Galway, taking in the "Nine Friendly Villages" of Ballintober, Dunamon, Castlecoote, Athleague, Mount Talbot, Ballygar, Creggs, Glinsk and Ballymoe.[1]
The section of the Suck Valley Way from Ballygar to Ballymoe forms part of the Beara-Breifne Way, a walking and cycling route under development, intended to run from the Beara Peninsula, County Cork to Breifne (County Cavan), following the line of Donal Cam O'Sullivan Beare's march in the aftermath of the Battle of Kinsale in 1603.[3]
Outside links
- Suck Valley Way
- Suck Valley Way on IrishTrails (Irish Sports Council)
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Suck Valley Way on IrishTrails (Irish Sports Council)
- ↑ National Trails Office 2010, p. 44.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Casey, Harry (23 May 1997). "Minister opens new 60-miles western walk". Connacht Tribune (Galway): p. 33.
- ↑ "Going Walkabout". Irish Farmers Journal (Dublin): p. 44. 14 June 1997.