Madam, - I don't believe Mary Rogan (October 11th) fully grasped the arguments I put forward in my letter of October 6th. I did not suggest that the west should become an "immense rural theme park". I merely argued that a cycle/walking trail from Collooney to Claremorris might be of greater economic benefit to the area than restoring a railway line which last carried a passenger in 1963.
I used the example of one such trail in Britain which has been of great benefit to tourism in the Derbyshire peak district. The opening of such trails throughout Europe has boosted tourism revenue in the areas they run through. My idea was hardly original. An article in this paper on March 13th, 1995 outlined a plan to create a 420-mile network of such trails throughout the west and northwest using the old railway lines, which to this day remain unused.
If the article were reprinted, the arguments and benefits would remain the same. There is no monopoly on vision, and the 1995 idea, which originated from the west, not Dublin, was truly visionary. Alas it did not happen, but it would probably have resulted in many more tourists coming to the area - something Mgr Horan would have welcomed.
The good news is that Waterford County Council is planning to convert 30km of the Dungarvan/Waterford railway into such a trail. I wish it well. Perhaps the success of this project will finally show others the practical and economic benefits of such trails.
I hope the vision of Waterford County Council will be reflected in the new National Development Plan to be published next month, by identifying more such projects across the country.
- Yours, etc,
BRENDAN QUINN, Enniscrone, Co Sligo.