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The new spur opening the viaduct from the Rathealy Road side in Fermoy is to become part of the European E8 Long Distance Path.

It has emerged that the new spur opening the viaduct from the Rathealy Road side in Fermoy is to become part of the European E8 Long Distance Path, a walking route that stretches from Romania to Cork.

The first phase of the planned works will include the repair and repainting of existing railings, the addition of new guard railings, the placing of entry gates and seating and new path surfacing. Planning permission has been sought for those works.

If the planning application is successful, Avondhu Blackwater Partnership plan to proceed with the project as soon as is feasibly possible with a view to having it open to the public in late 2014 or early 2015.

The project is being done in partnership with Cork County Council and Irish Rail and came about following a period of consultation with the public and with community representatives. The idea grew from a desire to facilitate works that would fulfil the local development group's mission to promote rural development and stimulate local tourism and heritage.

The first phase of the plan will open the viaduct from the Rathealy Road creating a spur of the Avondhu Way. It's been decided that, due to the proximity of the ruined Carrigabrick Castle and the significant costs any develoment of the site would incur, including extensive archaeological excavation, that access to the walk will be limited to the Rathealy Road.

Mayor of County Cork, Fermoy man Noel O'Connor, is an enthusiastic supporter of the project.

"As a Fermoy native, I'm delighted at the prospect of this addition to the town. This part of north Cork is beautiful and the provision of a new amenity that will highlight that beauty can only mean great things for the area," he told The Avondhu.

The viaduct, known locally as 'The Red Bridge' was built in 1872 as part of the railway between Fermoy and Lismore. It was last used as a railway bridge in 1967, prior to the closure of the Fermoy-Waterford rail line. It has been famously immortalized on film, featured in the 1966 war drama, 'The Blue Max'.

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