After years of being a non-cyclist, Alan bought me my first bike as an adult eight years ago. It was the wrong bike for me, pretty, mint green with a cute basket. As heavy to cycle as they get, yet because of it, I discovered I like cycling.

One trade-in later, I had a Giant hybrid and was in love. It was lighter, easier to cycle, and had great gears. I liked the bike so much that I still have it today. I WAS SET once I added the bike rack, panniers, and a handlebar bag.

Ireland is currently developing Greenways across the country, of which we have cycled quite a few. I had always intended to write about each Greenway as we completed them. But that ended up with me having a lot of pictures, fabulous experiences but no articles. To put that right, I will list the greenways we have cycled and slowly work my way through them.

Greenways – Cycled

Suir Blueway

Carrick-on-Suir to Clonmel, Co Tipperary (21km Linear)
We have completed this one, and I will write about it today. Because they are all linear, we constantly have to cycle out and then back to where we left the van. The total km covered in this cycle was 42.

The Great Western Greenway

Westport to Achill, Co Mayo (42km Linear)
This one, we cycled Westport to Newport, then Achill to Mulranny, and walked a section between Mulranny and Newport. I want to come back and redo the whole trail.

The Waterford Greenway

Waterford to Dungarvan (46km Linear)
The section of this Greenway we covered was Kilmacthomas to Dungarvan.

The Limerick Greenway

Rathkeale to Abbeyfeale (40km Linear)
We cycled from Barnagh to Abbeyfeale.

The Royal Canal Way

Dublin to Longford or Cloondara (144km Linear)
We have cycled between Mullingar and Cloondara over a few outings.

Old Rail Trail

Athlone to Mullingar (43km Linear)
We have completed this Greenway and would love to cycle again and follow the link to the Royal Canal Way.

Suir Blueway – June 2021

We cycled the Suir Blueway in June 2021 with our Springer Missy, who has since passed away.

It is so lovely to have these beautiful memories to look back on. Missy loved being out and about, and one of the best things we ever did was invest in a good dog trailer.

I ordered the trailer in January 2020, and we still use it with our young Springer Millie.

Dog trailer set up

But back to the Blueway. This trail is a Blueway because 32 km is on the river Suir and 21km is on a pathway beside the river. The entire Blueway runs for 53km. 

We found it hard to get parking in Carrick-on-Suir, so we started at a small park-up just outside the town. I have pinned the location to the map and added an image. The park-up takes you down a narrow lane to the riverside and has about six or seven spaces. Predominately when we were there, they were used by people fishing.

This Blueway cycle was straightforward, with many opportunities to stop and enjoy the scenery. We took it slow and cycled there and back in the afternoon. 

Of all the Greenways we have done, this one is the flattest and easiest to cycle. We also noted that we passed by several angling clubs. The river is very popular for fishing, and a few anglers were out on the day we were there. Everyone was friendly, and we got many comments on the dog trailer, but we usually do.

We stopped in Kilsheelan for lunch and sat by the bridge.

If we were to cycle this trail again, I would pop into the village for a coffee. 

Kilsheehan Bridge

My highlights on this cycle were smelling the meadowsweet on the gentle breeze as we cycled past, stopping to watch a Heron fishing and taking flight across the river, and sitting by the river at Poolakerry Castle, a 15th-century Irish tower house. 

Poolakerry Castle

The Suir Blueway is an immensely picturesque cycle trail, a combination of riverbank and wildflowers, with the Suir framed by forests and pasture land in the distance and punctuated at the beginning, middle and end with arched and stone bridges spanning the river at Carrick-on-Suir, Kilsheehan and Clonmel. 

I can’t leave this post without mentioning cyclists Sean Kelly and Sam Bennet, who are both from Carrick-on-Suir. Many consider this area of the country to be the spiritual home of cycling, and indeed we met many people out cycling who have been inspired to cycle because of them and mentioned it to us. 

I have included a link to Greenways Ireland here. https://greenwaysireland.org