The 2nd Great Western Greenway 10k walk/run gets set to go on Saturday 26th May at 2pm. The event is centrepiece to a wide range of events taking place in Westport during the ‘Get Out There Adventure Festival’ 21st–27th May.

Mayo County Council are the winners in the Public Service Innovation category of the Irish Times InterTradeIreland Innovation Awards 2012 for the Great Western Greenway, a 42 km off road walking and cycling trail linking Westport and Achill Island.  In its first year of operation it has attracted over 145,000 visitors, supporting 94 sustainable jobs and generating €7.2 million to the local economy.

Bord Fáilte report has confirmed the huge economic success of the Great Western Greenway in Mayo.

Eight delegates, representing Mayo tourism businesses and linked together by the Greenway, travelled to the World Travel Market – the leading global event for the travel industry – as part of a fact-finding, marketing and training expedition. The delegates, representing local tourist organisations, walking holiday organisers, holiday villages and outdoor adventure-themed holidays, were onsite at the travel market for a day and a half.

Castlebar Sinn Féin councillor, and Chairperson of Smart Travel Castlebar, Thérèse Ruane, has welcomed the commitment of funding to link Castlebar to the Great Western Greenway.

Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport Michael Ring TD has confirmed that almost €1.8 million has been earmarked to further develop tourism infrastructure in County Mayo, including a cycleway to Croagh Patrick and a Castlebar to Islandeady link. The developments will build on the success of The Great Western Greenway that is fast becoming one of the showpices of Mayo tourism.

More good news for the Great Western Greenwway today as Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport Michael Ring has announced the sanctioning of €155,000 for a cycling and walking infrastructure on the Northern Greenway - a 2.3 km walk and cycle route linking Westport town centre to Pinewoods.

Participants in the inaugural Great Western Greenway 10k Run/Walk, a centre piece in the forthcoming Westport Get Out There Adventure Festival (23-25 September), should have an extra spring in their step with the announcement of a total prize fund of €2,000 for the event.

The Western Regional Authority has a passed a motion ruling out the notion of a  greenway on any part of the Western Rail Corridor. The motion was proposed by Sinn Fein and received unanimous cross-party support, with Fine Gael, Fianna Fail, Labour and Independents all supporting the motion.