Miners' Way and Historical Trail
The Miners' Way and Historical Trail is a long-distance trail in the Republic of Ireland, which runs through three counties: Roscommon, Leitrim and Sligo. It is a circular route 73 miles long that begins and ends in Arigna, County Roscommon. It is typically completed in five days.[1]
Thee route is designated as a 'National Waymarked Trail' by the National Trails Office and is managed by Roscommon Integrated Development Company, and three councils. The trail was developed to encourage tourism in the area in the wake of the closure of the Arigna mines in 1990.[2] The route was originally conceived by a local priest, Father Sean Tynan, and built with funding from the European Regional Development Fund.[3] The trail was opened in July 2000.[3]
The trail consists of three looped routes that travel through neighbouring parts of Counties Roscommon, Leitrim and Sligo:
- The Miners' Way is 38½ miles long and follows paths used by miners working in the Arigna coal mines and makes a circuit by way of Keadue, Ballyfarnon and Corrie Mountain.
- The Historical Trail is 35 miles long and makes a circuit of Lough Key and Lough Arrow by way of Keadue, Lough Key Forest Park, Boyle, Carrowkeel, Castlebaldwin, Highwood and Ballyfarnon.
- A third trail makes a circuit of Lough Allen by way of Drumkeeran, Dowra and Drumshanbo.
Parts of the Miners' Way and Historical Trail also form 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 Leitrim) following the line of Donal Cam O'Sullivan Beare's march in the adtermath of the Battle of Kinsale in 1602.
Outside links
- Miners' Way and Historical Way on IrishTrails (Irish Sports Council)
- Miners' Way and Historical Trail - Route Map and Guide at ActiveMe.ie
References
- ↑ Miners' Way and Historical Way on IrishTrails (Irish Sports Council)
- ↑ Brennan, Paul (6 September 2000). "Arigna marks 10th anniversary of coalmines closure". Leitrim Observer (Carrick-on-Shannon): p. 18.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Donncha O'Dulaing launches Miners' Way". Leitrim Observer (Carrick-on-Shannon): p. 14. 19 July 2000.
