Native Tree Detective Walk on Culture Night (Sept. 20th)

Discover the characteristics and cultural aspects of the native trees of Ireland.

 As part of National Culture Night (Sept 20), botantist Matthew O’Toole, from Conservation Volunteers Terryland Forest Park, will take participants on what promises to be an exciting investigative guided nature walk through the Terryland Forest Park.

So become an arboreal detective by studying the bark, shape and form of the Oak, Alder, Hazel, Ash and other native flora. Find out why such trees were so important in the lives and beliefs of the peoples of Celtic Ireland.

Time: 5.00pm-7.00pm, Friday, September 20th 2013
Rendezvous: Terryland Castle, Dyke Road, Galway city

 For further informaton, contact Brendan at speediecelt@gmail.com

Terryland Forest Park involved in 'Plant One Million Trees in One Day' Initiative

Terryland Forest Park: Conservation Volunteers Update

Clean-Up of Forest Park was a great Success!

Many thanks to all those volunteers and supporters of the  Conservation Volunteers Terryland Forest Park (CVTFP) that turned up on Saturday October 28th for a well supported clean-up in the Terryland Forest Park on Saturday October. Lots of rubbish was collected in the allocated 2 hour period- 30 full bags (alcohol cans and bottles), a bicycle, a large piece of lino flooring, a buggy, a microwave, washing machine and a sofa.

Recent Anti-Social Activity

Sadly since our clean-up, more litter has appeared in the park due to the presence of a group of very drunk young people late on Halloween night who congregated near to the clean-up area and left behind a myriad of burnt tyres, tables, chairs and beverage containers.

However, CVTFP chairperson Brendan Smith met this week with the local Community Garda on the issue and discussions are taking place on possible ways of eliminating this anti-social problem once and for all from the Forest Park. So do not lose heart!

Conservation Volunteer HQ in Forest Park!

The Conservation Volunteers have taken delivery of a large container from City Parks manager Stephen Walsh. It has been positioned near to the Galway Bay FM premised at one of the entrances to the Terryland Forest Park. This unit has enormous potential uses including serving as our onsite headquarters and a depot for touring bicycles that can be loaned to park visitors.

Our friends in Cumann na bhFear are allocating a number of High Nelly vintage bikes to be used for this purpose. 

Brendan Smith has held preliminary discussions with the City Arts Office on how schools can be actively involved in the painting  of a thematic mural on the exterior walls of our new HQ.

Leafless Tree Detective Walk

Conservation Volunteer TFP member Matthew O’Toole is organising what promises to be an exciting investigative guided nature walk in the Terryland Forest Park at 2.30pm on Saturday November 17^th.

Matthew says. “As the last leaves of autumn fall, the trees take on a different form.
Come discover the trees of Terryland Forest Park with bark, shape and form. Become an arboreal detective!”

Rendezvous: O'Brien's Café, Lisbaun Estate, 2:30pm, Sat. November 17th
For further information, contact Matthew at vmatthewg@gmail.com

School Becomes a ‘Friend of the Terryland Forest Park’

St. Nicholas Parochial School is the first in a series of schools that it is hoped will be signing up over the next few months to take an active role in the development and preservation and promotion of the Terryland Forest Park  as an outdoor classroom and research laboratory of significant local and national importance.

The fifth and sixth class students will be working with Conservation Volunteer members Andreas Baumann, Matthew O’Toole and Brendan Smith to develop a free mobile app of the parkland that will benefit local and tourists alike!

The students will also mount an exhibit on the theme of the Forest Park at the Galway Science Fair that will take place on Sunday November  25^th in NUI Galway. This fair is major importance and attracted over 25,000 visitors last year.

Online Digital Maps of Forest now Available

Brendan Smith is one of three CVTFP members working on producing digital information maps containing important social and natural heritage information of the Terryland Forest Park. Andreas Baumann and Bernard McGlinchy are also involved in mapping the pioneering Seven Galway Castles Lopped Cycle Trail which will become a major Greenways of national importance.

It is the intention that these high tech resources will be used for educational and tourism purposes and be accessed online or as mobile apps.

A draft version of Brendan’s work can be viewed here

City Heritage Officer to work with Conservation Volunteers TFP

Jim Higgins, Galway City Heritage Officer, will meet with the conservation volunteers  and our partner group Cumann na bhFear (aka Men’s Shed) at 8pm this Thursday to review heritage work projects within the Terryland Forest Park area that could be undertaken by our members. Areas being considered include works at the Terryland Castle and the old Victorian waterworks as well as the repair of drystone walls along the Dyke Road.

The meeting will take place at Cumann an bhFear premises at Unit IB Sandy Road Business Park. All members and supporters are invited!

Establishing a Volunteer Park Rangers unit

As mentioned previously, the establishment of a volunteer Park Rangers unit to act as an almost permanent daytime presence in the Terryland Forest Park is essential if this green heritage resource is to be reclaimed by the citizens as the People’s Park and a haven for wildlife. These rangers could act as information guides, litter collectors and supervisors of tree planting activities.

Are you interested in joining up?

Greenprint for Terryland Forest Park

Click here to see the ambitious community plans for Terryland Forest Park

Irish Journey's. Part 1: Newport - A Cyclist's Paradise

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Tourism is presently worth circa €5 billion annually to the Irish economy and will increase substantially in importance if the correct interlinked policies are put in place.

Whilst many overseas tourists come to Ireland to attend business conferences or stags/hen parties in Dublin, Cork or other cities, nevertheless viable sustainable alternatives are being developed primarily in the rural areas that will once again entice in travellers interested in experiencing the sights and sounds of the countryside or to re-connect with the land of their forefathers.

I went to experience one such project in county Mayo that has in its short history become one of the state’s fastest growing tourist attractions as well as acting as a template for others to emulate.

An Atlantic Greenway

Old Railway Bridge

The Great Western Greenway presently goes from Newport to Achill but is being extended to Westport and hopefully onto Clifden where ambitious proposals to re-develop the old railway line to Galway city will link into other major ‘green corridors’ in east Galway (that I am involved with) thus creating a vast walking and cycling network that could dramatically increase the public’s participation and understanding of eco-tourism, making it mainstream in the process. 

Walking and cycling through the vast wilderness and farmlands that exist in the West of Ireland should make people appreciate the beauty of nature and the urgent need to safeguard wildlife habitats such as bogs, mountains, hedgerows, wetlands and meadows are under serious threat from human encroachmen.

Tourism in Ireland: Short History

From the second half of the 19^th century until the last two decades, the majority of foreign tourists traditionally travelled here to enjoy the country’s green and pleasant rural land and seascapes.

Ireland came to international prominence as a tourist destination when Queen Victoria visited in 1861 and stayed amongst the lakes and mountains of Killarney in country Kerry. With the construction of a network of 2,000 miles of railways by the 1890s, the wealthy aristocracy and gentry of Europe started to arrive in this part of the British Empire to enjoy the scenery, fishing, fox hunting and game shooting. 

From the 1930s, Irish governments quite successfully promoted the clean idyllic Irish countryside into Britain and to the Irish Diaspora in the USA.

Sadly the Celtic Tiger’s mad rush to modernity destroyed much of our natural heritage leaving us with a legacy of urban sprawl, a huge countrywide network of so-called ‘once-off housing’, hundreds of derelict estates, polluted waterways, a private car based transport infrastructure, intensive agriculture that poisoned our native insects and wildlife, and the disappearance of bogs, hedgerows and dry stone walls all in the name of ‘progress’.

Much of Ireland’s renowned tranquillity disappeared under a layer of concrete, tarmac, lighting and man-made noises.

This process even transformed our individual personalities changed as we became a lot more selfish, more aggressive and a lot less friendly.

Re-awakening of a Sense of Place & Community

But thankfully there is now a growing awareness across different strata of society from local communities to national government that the island’s natural and social heritage is something that is worth saving. Though the reasons may vary amongst the different groupings , nevertheless most of their aspirations are progressive, including: the development of high value eco tourism markets (from outdoor sporting activities to walking tours); the preservation of our cultural traditions and the protection of our indigenous biodiversity. There are also economic and societal side benefits such as improving personal health and fitness, as a source of clean renewable energies, leisure amenities, herbal medicines and organic farm produce.

Over the last few years, visionary individuals in local authorities are working closely with community, educational and environmental groups all across Ireland to create exciting sustainable rural projects that will increase public access to the countryside without damaging its beauty or its wildlife habitats.

For instance, under the auspices of Marie Mannion, the council’s energetic Heritage Officer, Galway is dotted with over hundred ‘Golden Mile’ routes that are maintained and developed by local communities, promoting the history and natural wildlife of the areas.  
  

Mayo Shows the Way Forward

One of the most interesting sustainable projects in recent years has been the development of the Great Western Greenway in county Mayo which has became a template for the rest of the country to emulate.

This world class route (Westport - Achill) that opened in 2011 is a 43.5km traffic free cycling and walking facility which follows closely the abandoned Great Western Midlands Railway that closed in 1937. The project is coordinated by Anne O’Connor walking and cycling development officer (probably Ireland’s only such officer!) at Mayo County Council who has managed to achieve what was thought impossible: the agreement of local landowners to allow permissive access to the public to pass through their lands.

This route offers gentle gradients and some of the most idyllic scenery in the west of Ireland. The route forms part of the National Cycle Network and it is the longest off road cycling experience in the Country.

Transforming an abandoned Railway into a vibrant Greenway

Railway Bridge, Newport

The Newport / Mulranny railway formed part of the once famous Westport / Achill Railway. This railway was one of the so-called ‘Balfour Lines’, called after Arthur J. Balfour, Chief Secretary for Ireland During the years 1887-91, who introduced the Light Railways (Ireland) Act which provided state assistance for the construction of narrow gauge lines to disadvantaged areas such as West Mayo. The first station on this extension was Newport which opened in February 1894, followed by Mullranny in August of the same year. The line to Achill was completed in May 1895.

Individual towns and villages prospered with the arrival of the Great Western and Midland Railway Company. The luxurious Great Western Hotel opened at Mullranny in 1897 and a combined rail and hotel ticket was available.

There were high hopes for its future and it proved to be a great social and economic asset to West Mayo. Unfortunately traffic never consistently reached the levels originally anticipated. Development of road traffic in the 1930’s sealed the fate of the line. The last train ran in the autumn of 1937, only 42 years after the line had opened.

Today the section of the line between Newport and Mulranny with its fine engineering structures, gentle gradients and outstanding scenery has been converted into an off road walking and cycling route – a fitting reminder to the glorious railway era.

Newport: A Cyclist’s Paradise

Blue Bicycle Tea Rooms, Newport

The result is that Newport is the cyclists’ capital of Ireland. I was pleasantly surprised at the economic vibrancy and civic pride that is flowing through the town. 

Restaurants, bike rentals and lodgings are springing up to service this new transport market; information signage is strategically placed; well maintained playgrounds parks and walking routes are in situ; historical buildings and streets are being tastefully spruced up. 

Newport is surrounded by a lush countryside of oceanic bays, lakes, rivers, mountains, wetlands and farmlands that the tourist can now enjoy through by walking or cycling.

I noticed some families and groups hiring bikes from local renal shops whilst others brought their own attached to motorized vehicles that they parked near or in the town.

The Greenway is also becoming a popular destination for charities organising fund-raising through cycling events.

Taking the Greenway from Newport to Mullraney. I met many families and single older people on route that were truly enjoying the experience as the terrain is almost entirely flat.

 Upon completion, I left Newport with a nice feeling of satisfaction, knowing that I had seen a benign future and thus inspired to re-double my efforts working with others to put in place a Greenways network in Galway city.

Exciting New Community-based 'Greenways' Network to Link the Castles of Galway City & County

Repairing Old Bog Road, Carrowbrowne

University students, farmers, environmental campaigners, city residents, cycling advocates, heritage groups, local authority officials and politicians are joining forces to develop an ambitious network of ‘Greenways’ that will link up castles on the east side of Galway city with historical mansions and castles in the north and east of the county.

Shane Foran, Cllr Frank Fahy & Oisín Ó Nidh in Community Clean-Up, Carrowbrowne Bog

Community & Environmental Efforts Finally Bearing Fruit

After years of campaigning and activity, the combined efforts of the Friends of Galway's Forests, Castlegar Connect, the Terryland Forest Park committee, the Off the Beaten Track heritage cycle scheme, visionary  local authority officials (Marie Mannion, Rosie Webb, Cathy Joyce, Sharon Carroll, Stephen Walsh) and one lone city councillor Frank Fahy are finally starting to bear fruit as Galway may yet benefit from a network of pedestrian and cycle trails to rival that of Kerry, Wicklow, Scotland and rural England.
Such an initiative could become be the most important eco initiative in Galway city for decades and will help in securing the future of the Terryland Forest Park and in supporting the growth of the community organic garden movement in the city. 

Cloonacauneen Castle

Network of Greenways to Link Galway's Castles

Rosie Webb, Greenways Advocate at Galway City Council, on 'Off the Beaten Track' Heritage Cycle Tour to Menlo

It is envisaged that this exciting community-based initiative under the working title of Slí na gCaisleán (‘The Way of the Castles’), supported by both councils in Galway city and county, could give a whole new dimension to local tourism by providing a wonderful network of scenic pedestrian and cycling trails that will commence at Terryland Castle, continue on through the Terryland Forest Park to Castlegar Castle with one route branching off towards Menlo Castle. An alternative route will wind its way through Carrowbrowne Bog towards Cloonacauneen Castle. 

Botharín, Ballybrit

This trail will connect into an old right of way that  linked Castlegar Church to the Ballybrit Race Course. Known as the Castlegar Mass Path, it is presently been developed and maintained by residents in Parkmore and Ballybrit as well as the Castlegar Connect NGO.  A mosaic of ancient ancient tracks known as botharíns exist all across the country that local people are finally becoming aware off once again after decades of non-use due to modern society's over reliance of cars and main roads. 

Summer Garden Festival, Claregalway Castle

There are plans to develop links to Claregalway Castle, with further routes over time going into the heartlands of north and east Galway county. 

Beautiful Countryside of Carrowbrowne

May 12th: Volunteers Needed for Repair Work on Old Bog Road in Carrowbrowne

An important step in making this ambitious city-county Greenway a reality will take place on Saturday May 12^th when volunteers will gather together at 11.30am beside the Carrowbrowne graveyard before commencing the re-surfacing and cleaning up of a lovely old bog road. This event is being coordinated by Conservation Volunteers Terryland Forest Park and environs with city councillor Frank Fahy who has secured the support of local land-owners and has led similar clean-ups in the area over the last year. Participants include NUIG business students operating under the ‘CKI Alive’ programme as well as conservationists and local residents. The students are particularly interested in developing the community and tourism aspects of the Greenways. Everyone is welcomed to participate in this conservation work. 

Michael Tiernan using a 'Grabber' traditional implement that he made himself to clean up a ditch in Carrowbrowne

Galway's Green Heroes

For the event, members of the Ballinfoile Cumann na bhFhear (Men’s Shed) under the guidance of Michael Tiernan are making replicas of special traditional implements ('grabbers) used in bogs in bygone days to remove vegetation and debris from water channels. 

Anne McCabe in a cleaning operation to re-open the old Castlegar Mass Path

Different organisations are involved in different tasks at different stages along the route including Conservation Volunteers Terryland Forest, Galway Civic Trust, Castlegar Connect, VEC, Cumann na bhFear and the Ballinfoile Mór Community Organic Garden. Within Galway City Council, we are supported by Cathy Joyce of the GTU and Stephen Walsh at City Parks whilst Rosie Webb is the senior official responsible for designing the city’s Greenways network.

Councillor Frank Fahy repairing a drystone wall in Carrowbrowne

 Marie Mannion, in her capacity as Heritage Officer of Galway County Council and prime mover behind the ‘Golden Mile’ projects, is providing much needed inspiration, professional expertise and guidance. Plus of course the redoubtable Councillor Frank Fahy!

Old Bog Road, Carrowbrowne

May 20th: Launch of  'Off the Beaten Track' Cycle Heritage Route for Carrowbrowne

On Sunday May 20^th, an “Off the Beaten Track” heritage cycle tour will go through the enhanced Carrowbrowne Bog to celebrate the work of the volunteers on the previous weekend. Starting at 11am from the Centra Foodstore on Bóthar an Chóiste, it will include a stop-over for hostelry refreshments at Cloonacauneen Castle.

These trails will open up an oftentimes hidden side of Galway city to both tourist and locals alike who, by taking to the bike or by walking, will enjoy a fascinating landscape of ancient castles, hedgerows, farmlands natural beauty and rich biodiversity that commence only a few minutes from the hustle and bustle of the city’s streets.

 For further information, contact speediecelt@gmail.com

See previous articles on
Ballinfoile Mór Community Organic Garden - bringing healthy food & biodiversity to an urban area
Cumann an bhFear (Men's Shed) - a men's movement in Galway city that encourages men from all walks of life to help each other to learn and/or teach skills, particularly traditional Irish crafts and skills that can benefit themselves and the wider community.
 Off the Beaten Track - guided heritage cycle tours through the picturesque rural landscapes of Galway city, landscapes that are unknown to the majority of the urban population.  

'Off the Beaten Track' Heritage Cycle Routes & 'Greenways' for Galway city

'Off the Beaten Track' Cycle Route through the rural landscapes of north eastern Galway city

Every cloud has a silver lining. The sudden but inevitable demise of the building boom-based Celtic Tiger has meant that the greedy property speculators and so-called 'developers', supported by friends amongst the banking, political and civil service hierarchy, thankfully did not have the time required to bulldoze all of the Irish countryside and cover it with tarmac and concrete! Hence there is still much to enjoy in our legendary natural heritage even in the urban sprawl suburbia of Galway city.So once again, I am organising, as a joint Galway City Council/ Galway City Community Forum venture, a cycle tour of the stunning beautiful rural countryside of Galway City as part of Ireland's National Cycle Week.

Entitled 'Off the Beaten Path' it will commence at 11am sharp on Sunday June 20th from the Centra Foodstore on Bóthar na Choiste, Headford Road.

The event will be a 4 hour leisurely cycle stroll through some of the most interesting historical scenic landscapes on the east side of the city. It will hopefully be a journey of discovery for many of its participants.We will ignore the hustle and bustle of housing estates, shopping centres and highways.Instead we will travel along secondary roads to enjoy the sights and sounds of an increasingly threatened but none-the-less vibrant countryside dominated by small farms and natural features such as lakes and bogs.
Commencing on Bóthar an Choiste (Irish = Coach Road), I will bring participants through townlands whose ancient names reveal hidden landscapes and reflect the respect that Irish people once had for Nature -Ballinfoile (Town of the ridge), Ballindooley (Town of the black lake), Killoughter (High Wood), Menlo (Small Lake), Coolough (Hollow at the base of the cliff)...
We will journey over hills, along botharins, past abandoned farm buildings, ruined castles, karst outcrops, bogs, lakes, dykes, turloughs and meadows.
We will stop off in Menlo to enjoy a picnic along the banks of the River Corrib.
To liven the journey up, I will recount tales of headless horsemen, ancient battles, haunted ruins, tragic drownings, lost gardens and of the great forests and the majestic wolves that once roamed the area.

Though I have ongoing battles with City Hall over a myriad of community and environmental issues, nevertheless I can only heap praise on the city officials who contributed to the success of this event, particularly Cathy Joyce.

So I hope that Galwegians will take to their bicycles on Sun June 19th and enjoy the remaining vestiges of our once glorious natural environment, with its rich native flora and fauna.
For further information, email me at speediecelt@gmail.com

Developing an Online Mapping Network of
Cycle & Walking Greenways for Galway city

Finally, the event is part of an ambitious programme by the Friends of Galway's Forests NGO and associated community environmental groups such as Castlegar Connect and Birdwatch Galway to map out over the next few months exciting new walking and cycling leisure routes through areas of rural ambiance and outstanding beauty that are located on the periphery of Galway city. It is hoped that this process will re-engage Irish people once again with Nature, protect biodiversity and ultimately ourselves as a species. Click here for further information on the development of eco-tourism in Galway city