Work comenced last week on the new walkway that will link Lackagh village with the Claregalway CLG pitches and their walkway at Knockdoemore Park.
The interest shown on this project became particularly evident when Galway East TD Sean Canney visited the site at the weekend to acknowledge the progress made.
The Galway East TD made a major contribution to the area when he was Minister of State at the Department of Rural Affairs when he became an enormous help in providing funding for the project under the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) last February.
The East Galway TD has displayed tremendous interest in this community project and great credit must be given to him for his dedication as the site in question is not even in his elected constituency area.
The Lackagh/Knockdoemore Walking Trail Project was granted €185,546 in what is a unique project, which shows what can be achieved when groups work together to deliver for their communities. Linking the parishes of Lackagh and Claregalway, when conpleted it is also envisaged that this project will link the sports facilities of Claregalway GAA an Turloughmore GAA.
The idea of this project was floated in 2013 by Frank Kearney to Cairde Mor who took on board the idea and started work on what hopefully will be phase one of a larger project in future years.
It is hoped that in future years this projedt will extend to the Tuam road towards Baunnore and onto the summit of Knockdoe Hill which was the site of the famous Battle of Knockdoe in 1504 and link towards Turloughmore and Lackagh villages if landowners permission could be agreed on.
Frank Kearney had made numerous visits to his brother who lives in Norwich and experienced the many walking trails that were through farms in that area.
As a result of seeing at first hand the advantages of walking through rural heartland of rolling countryside, Frank Kearney and his family have generously agreed to allow the first part of this mammoth project proceed by agreeing to make land available that over time could change the lives of many people in future generations.
Through the work of Cairde Mor and the help of Galway County Council and the funding of the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) from the Department of Rural and Community Development, the support of former Minister Sean Canney and others, this projedt is finally coming to fruition.
