Residents Clash with Council Over Kinsale Greenway Route

The contentious Kinsale Greenway project has become ground zero for a passionate clash between Cork County Council and residents who claim their properties are under threat. At issue are compulsory purchase orders (CPOs) that could see sections of privately owned land acquired for the 15km cycling and walking route connecting Cork City to Kinsale.

Neighborhoods Divided

Yellow protest signs reading "No Greenway Through Our Land" now punctuate the landscape near Ballinhassig and surrounding communities. A 250-member Facebook group titled "Cork to Kinsale Greenway Residents Association" serves as the organizing hub for opponents who argue:

"This isn't about being anti-cycling - it's about fundamental property rights. They're carving a tourist route through people's back gardens." – Geraldine O'Sullivan, Ballinhassig homeowner

The council counters that the €15 million project, funded by the National Transport Authority, will provide safe active travel infrastructure while boosting local tourism. Proposed routes would repurpose abandoned railway corridors but require portions of active farmland and residential boundaries.

The CPO Controversy

Compulsory purchase powers allow Irish authorities to acquire land for public infrastructure projects, with owners receiving market-value compensation. Residents contend:

• Rural homeowners would lose privacy and property value -Farmland would become unusable with path bisecting fields -Alternative coastal routes weren't properly considered

Council officials maintain they've exhausted alternative options:

"After 18 months of consultations, we're utilizing brownfield routes where possible. Where infrastructure demands it, CPOs remain a last-resort tool for the greater public benefit." – Transport Planner Mark O'Neill

What Comes Next

With oral hearings scheduled for December 2025, tensions remain high. The council has already amended sections of the route following earlier objections. Both sides acknowledge Ireland's greenway expansion brings complex tradeoffs between community rights and public access – making Kinsale a test case for similar projects nationwide.

Read the original investigation by The Journal