The Irish section of the EuroVelo route, which stretches
across Europe and features extensive cycling areas within each nation it
includes, has received a boost with some extra funding.
The entire route in Ireland, from Donegal to Wexford, has
been mapped and will be publicised later in the year.
Much of the route is already signposted and it is
expected that the remainder will be signposted within the next 18 months.
A sum of €182,000 has now been allocated by the Government to support the implementation by Clare County Council of a EuroVelo 1 route in the county.
The EuroVelo 1 route - which is one part of the huge overall EuroVelo route across Europe - has been identified and assessed as part of a joint venture between Clare County Council and Sport Ireland.
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The EuroVelo route in Ireland is in some sections fully
developed with EuroVelo signage to ensure cyclists stay on track, including a
very large section in the North West of the Republic from Newtowncunningham in Co
Donegal to Leenaun, Letterbrickaun, Co Galway.
However, as the route continues south from that point into Co Clare, it is developed for cycling and is part of EuroVelo but it does not feature signage and other infrastructure for cyclists.
The funding that
has just been made available for the development of the Co Clare section, which
is 317km long, will allow signs to be erected along with bike repair
stands, information boards and cycle racks, which will all mean that section will become fully completed.
The route in Clare comprises six daily sections, which
typically can be cycled in one day by even those cyclists who are not very
experienced.
In some parts the route ties into cycle routes already in operation for some years, for example, the Doolin and Loop Head cycle routes.
EuroVelo1, which is the section that includes Ireland,
stretches from Norway to Portugal via Ireland and targets long distance
cyclists. It also provides routes for users of all abilities as the criteria
for inclusion specify lower-trafficked roads as well as greenways.
The route forms part of a network of 17 long distance
cycle routes throughout Europe and it enters County Clare via counties Galway
and Limerick.
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