The Minister for the Environment believes small businesses developing along the Royal Canal Greenway in the Shannonside region coming together will add to a much bigger economic impact for everyone.
The mostly flat Greenway stretches 130 kilometres from Maynooth in Kildare to Clondra in Longford, and is the longest greenway in the country. Development began back in 2010 and it has cost 12 million euro to construct.
Minister Eamon Ryan is hopeful that small businesses such as bike hire or cafes will open along the way - and that will in turn lead to more investment in the overall region:
It's hoped that when the 5km Covid exercise restrictions are lifted later this year, the Greenway will become one of the main tourism attractions in County Longford.
Waterways Ireland head of marketing and communications Sharon Lavin says it will present a great opportunity for people to re-connect with their surroundings:
