Greenways are attracting tourists ‘from all over world’

Tourists ‘from all over the world’ are travelling to Westmeath every week to spend time on the county’s greenways.

That’s according to Mullingar Bike Hire founder Alan Maye who, along with his team, is preparing for a busy summer tourism season ahead.

His is one of many businesses that take advantage of the almost 160km cycling route that can be accessed in Mullingar between the Royal Canal Greenway and Old Rail Trail.

Alan, who has a fleet of over 100 bikes, says activity-based tourism is "what people like now".

"During the summer we have tourists coming into Mullingar, staying in the hotels and spending their days on the greenways and stopping off at different places here and there," he says.

"Each day they would go different directions, one day they would go out to Maynooth – maybe as far as Enfield – and come back.

"The Royal Canal Greenway is 130km if you start in Longford and go as far as Maynooth – then there’s another 40km from Mullingar to Athlone on the Old Rail Trail."

Alan says a recent punter told him he couldn’t believe he had such a good time on the greenways.

"He spent one day in Belvedere House and Gardens, was out in Fore Abbey another, and then out on the greenway for another day – went out to Mullingar Pewter, had a coffee, lunch, and bought some gifts," he says.

"He also loved the lakes, said it was nicer than Killarney and better value too."

While the greenways in Westmeath are becoming well-established for domestic tourism, international tourism has also increased.

"The amount of tourism that comes into Mullingar because of the greenways is phenomenal," says Alan.

"They are coming from all over the world now, from the US, Australia, New Zealand, and all the European countries.

"We also have bus tours that come in for a day out, we cover school groups and we are fully booked up for Bike Week next month."

Alan says they have bikes to cater to everyone.

"We’re located at Mullingar Harbour, on the greenway with direct access to it," he says.

"We do bike hire for all, we do bikes with trailers for kids, electric bikes, we cover everything really – we have a range of over 100 bikes so there’s plenty of options.

"We also have a new trailer bike with a tent on the back that people can rent to stay along the greenway and bring their own accommodation – the first one in Ireland."

Paula Cunningham is the third generation of her family to run Cunningham’s Pub in Killucan – which her grandfather established along the Royal Canal in 1917.

"We have a long tradition, we’re here for over 100 years now," she says.

"It’s a little gem and a growing place for tourism, lots of people come out here on hired bikes and the greenways have been a great boost for the region since it began to be developed a few years ago.

"A lot of the tourism we get is domestic, couples, families, you name it – but we do have some people coming from abroad too.

"We had a few different groups who came from abroad last year, like from the US, who pitched their tents up with us as a base to go out and enjoy activities on the greenway.

"We would get people from Italy and other European countries too."

Paula says Cunningham’s is a "classic Irish pub".

"We do the likes of your Irish coffee, a pint of Guinness, tea, ice cream, cake and stuff like that," she says.

"There is a nice stove in the bar for those who need to warm up during the cold winter months and we also do Airbnb and can provide showers for cyclists."

Paula says much of her clientele comes from the National Famine Way.

"We would get people staying with us who are doing the famine trail in stages, it starts at Strokestown in Roscommon and they’d stop off with us on the way.

"Strokestown House has a museum, a café, and all these things – it’s beautiful – and there are lots of other places to stop on the way too, like Coolnahay.

"We also have couples who stay with us and they might go out doing activities on the Dublin side of the canal one day and go out the Mullingar side another day, for example.

"They bring, bikes, canoes, you name it – everyone has become so creative in how they use the greenways."

Jack’s Stop is another business taking advantage of traffic along the Old Rail Trail, located at Streamstown, some 17km from Mullingar and 23km from Athlone.

The café, located in a refurbished former station house, is just over a year old and its proprietor Jacqueline Muldoon is looking forward to a busy second year ahead.

"Cyclists absolutely love it," she says.

"We have what I think is the second biggest playground in Westmeath, which draws lots of families down as there’s plenty for the kids to do.

"We have a zipline, slides, swings and it’s all very safe – it’s beautiful really.

"The café is right along the greenway, with access to and from it for bikes.

"We have public toilets always open here too, which is very handy for people cycling long distances."

Jacqueline says they have lots of fresh food and drink on offer to help those on long-distance cycles keep their energy up.

"We do a light breakfast with scrambled egg, bacon, and all fresh sandwiches – they’re all made to order," she says.

"We do pastries, light brunches, quiches, sandwiches and desserts. A lot of it is homemade, I make brown bread which is very popular."