Clifden Rail: The Scenic Route

Date Published: 04-Sep-2008

Galway County Council has confirmed it is currently preparing to carry out amajor feasibility study on the possibility of creating a walking and cycling route along the old railway line that once linked Galway City with Clifden.

The possibility of such a project has been raised on several occasions in the past, but council officials have now started work on the terms of reference they will use for the feasibility study, stating that they are very interested in developing the old line as a recreational amenity.

The old railway officially opened on July 1 1895 as a means of connecting the fishing regions of Connemara with the rest of the country and it ran a 50 mile course between Clifden and the city.

It was closed in 1935, much to the distress of locals, who it is said lined both sides of the track as the final train passed through the region as if in mourning for the loss of their rail link with the rest of the county.

It is understood the lands through which the railway line ran were sold off after the tracks were…