Huge participation in Great Southern Trail Christmas 2012 Walk at Abbeyfeale

The newly opened exten-sion to the Great Southern Trail [GST] at Abbeyfeale, Co. Limerick was extremely well patronised over the Christmas break with scores of people availing of the holiday period to visit the 2 mile development which has brought the GST to the Kerry border. The official walk organised by the GST to  celebrate the occasion took place on Thursday 27th December and attracted a couple of hundred walkers and cyclists. Limerick Co. Co., who carried out the work on the extension with National Cycle Network funding, were represented by Cllr. Francis Foley and Anthony Coleman of the Community and Enterprise Section. Mr. Coleman co-ordinated the overall project and is to be compli-mented on the outcome. Mr.Gerald O’Carroll, historian and Tralee native, was among the large Kerry repre-sentation and he addressed the crowd on the history of the ancient Purt Castle which is adjacent to the Trail. Coach House Travel provided compli-mentary transport from Rathkeale and at journey’s end the GST provided refreshments at the Railway Bar, Abbeyfeale. Saturday 2nd February 2013 is the 50th anniver-sary [day and date] of the last Limerick-Tralee daily scheduled passenger train and to mark this significant historic day the GST will host another walk at 2.15pm from Abbeyfeale to Duagh village. This will include a mile of an as yet undeveloped section in Kerry, so waterproof footwear/ wellingtons may be required.