Overview
The surface is compacted tarmac with gentle gradients the whole way, which is the practical fact that decides who this trail suits: cyclists, walkers, runners, and prams and wheelchairs over most of it. It runs traffic-free from the market town of Rathkeale in County Limerick to the Kerry border near Abbeyfeale, about 40 km currently open, with future phases extending the full route to Tralee at 85 km. It forms part of the EuroVelo Atlantic Coast Route (EV 1), threading river valleys, hedgerow fields and a handful of old railway villages.
History and heritage
The path follows the former Great Southern and Western Railway line, opened in stages between 1867 and 1880 and closed to passengers in 1977. In 1991 a volunteer group, Great Southern Trail Ltd, began campaigning to turn it into a greenway, work that won a Special Jury Prize at the 2011 European Greenways Awards.
Land-ownership disputes held things up until November 2015, when Limerick City and County Council took over after CIÉ was confirmed as owner of the corridor. The Limerick section, often called the Limerick Greenway, opened in June 2021, and the North Kerry stretch reached Listowel by October 2022. Work continues on the full Limerick-to-Tralee link.
At the Rathkeale trailhead the former station houses the Palatine Museum, which tells the story of the German Protestant refugees settled here in 1710 by Sir Thomas Southwell. Nearby Castle Matrix, linked to Sir Walter Raleigh’s introduction of the potato to Ireland, adds another stop.
Points of interest
If your time is short, make Barnagh the target: the tunnel and the hub sit together at the high point of the line and gather most of the trail’s interest.
- Barnagh Tunnel – a 115m former railway tunnel, renovated and reached by a purpose-built underpass beneath the N21. The cool, shaded passage is home to several bat species and ferns.
- Barnagh Greenway Hub – a visitor centre beside the tunnel with free parking, a playground, a miniature crazy-golf course, toilets, a small café and bike hire.
- Ferguson’s Viaduct – a cast-iron railway viaduct over a deep valley, with views towards the Galtee and Silvermine Mountains.
- Stone bridges – five finely cut 19th-century bridges cross the trail between Rathkeale and Newcastle West.
- Wildlife – the route runs alongside the River Deel through the Golden Vale; skylarks and swallows are about, and the tunnel roosts bats.
- Side loops – the 6 km Rooskagh Loop and the Tullig Wood circuit give quieter woodland walking and picnic spots.
Getting there and parking
- Rathkeale – free parking at the trailhead opposite the Palatine Museum, with cafés and B&Bs in town and a short walk to the start.
- Newcastle West – no dedicated greenway car park; park pay-and-display on the street near Gaelscoil Ó Doghair on Station Road and follow the signs onto the trail.
- Barnagh Greenway Hub – free car park, toilets and café make it the easy midpoint.
- Abbeyfeale – limited roadside parking near the town centre; the trail continues north towards Listowel.
Practical information
- Surface and access: compacted tarmac, traffic-free, wheelchair-friendly over most of it, with some short gravel near the tunnel.
- Length: about 40 km open (Rathkeale–Abbeyfeale); 85 km when the full route is complete.
- Waymarking: greenway signs along the route, with printed maps from Limerick City and County Council’s website and at the Barnagh Hub.
- Bike hire: at Barnagh Hub, and at Adrenalinsports in Newcastle West, which has e-bikes and a workshop.
- Dogs: allowed throughout; keep them on a lead where there is livestock.
- Best time: spring to early autumn, when the days are long.
- Safety: watch for livestock at farm-gate crossings, obey the road-crossing signs, and carry water and a basic repair kit.
- Contact: Limerick City and County Council Greenway Services, greenway@limerick.ie, phone +353 61 555 1234.
Nearby
Adare, with its thatched cottages and medieval ruins, is a short detour, and Ardagh has a restored railway station and a heritage centre.