Photograph: John Reidy 18-2-2009
“As someone who has been involved with the Glanageenty Walkway both as an NEWKD employee and as a heritage officer since it was set up back in 2008, it gave me great pleasure to read in The Kerryman recently that Glanageenty Walkway was top of the list of five walks,” – John Houlihan.
Caherciveen native, Currow resident, John Houlihan is the Environmental and Heritage Officer with Glanageenty Walkways, Ballymacelligott.
But his involvement goes far deeper than that. He was involved alongside John Lenihan and his team during the long and enduring battle to realise the dream of the walkway in the heart of Ballymacelligott.
Public Access and Appreciation
The agenda and the dream was always to marry and sustain the new work of public access and appreciation to the breath-taking wilderness of the place.
This is an area steeped in history and natural beauty and the battle for its transformation was one of gentle persuasion and more of an unveiling than the usual rooting and tearing associated with projects of its equals.
Mr. Houlihan was delighted to see the amenity described as one the best walks Kerry has to offer.
“This fabulous amenity has now won recognition in many of our national papers and on a few RTE programmes on radio and TV. But these awards don’t happen by chance,” he said.
Dedicated Community Effort
“This has been the result of a long struggle by a very dedicated community of people and it’s these people I want to thank here albeit 15 years down the line.
“People behind the success of projects like Glanageenty Walkways are often the forgotten heroes of stories like this.
“Firstly I want to thank those who made their land available for the walkway. This list includes: Coillte; Francie Lenihan; John Lenihan and the Bernard family, without their generosity there would be no walkway here today.
“I’m not forgetting the people in Fáilte Ireland and National Trails of Ireland who saw the potential in the project and took it under their various umbrellas.
People in the Spotlight
“Many people have contributed hugely to its success over the years but I want to highlight one group of people,” John continued.
“These people are members of the original group who got this walkway up and running.They are the local families who gave their time to haul gravel at their own expense with their own machinery to create the paths on the walkway.
“These same people gave of their time to fence and erect poles and wire along the walkway to protect it from livestock. The people I’m thinking of include: Victor Blennerhassett, Eddie Lyons and Tom Herlihy.
1.5k Visitors Per Week
“Without the voluntary effort these people invested in the project we would not have the facility that Glanageenty is today.
“This is a facility that, in a recent survey, showed that an average of 1,500 people a week use the walkway.
“As a member of the original workforce and as a witness to the time and effort involved in getting the project to where it is today, I’d like to take this opportunity to offer my congratulations to Glanageenty Walkways on its success.
Thanks to Fundraisers
“I want to thank all those who have contributed by holding events to raise money for the walkway and I thank Ballymacelligott Drama Group for thinking of us and for their generosity towards the amenity this week.
“I look forward to many more years of enjoyment and success for one of Kerry’s top walking facilities,” said Mr. Houlihan in conclusion.
Keep in touch with Glanageenty Walkways on their Facebook page on: https://www.facebook.com/glanageenty/
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