Late TV legend Gay Byrne’s wife, Kathleen Watkins, was back in west Donegal this afternoon to officially unveil a new walkway in memory of him.
His daughters, Susie and Crona and their children, were also present at Gweebarra Bridge for the unveiling of The Gay Byrne Trail.
The legendary TV and radio presenter, who had made Dungloe his second home, passed away in Dublin in 2019 aged 85.
“It follows the footsteps through the Rosses he, Kathleen and their family and friends took over the years,” said lifelong friend and former Mary from Dungloe Director, Pat ‘Norah’ Gallagher.
He said the 14 km walking, hiking and cycling route will follow the N56 from Gweebarra Bridge to Dungloe, with ‘seven alternative routes off it’ along the spectacular Dooey and Falmore coastline.
It is the first part of a five-year plan which will also see the establishment, in year two, of a second route from the town, through the Rosses to Burtonport and finishing at Arranmore Lighthouse.
Fittingly, year three will see the establishment of another trail through the Lower Rosses, passing Donegal Airport, Mullaghduff and ending in Ballymanus. This will be named the Brian Friel Way.
“That route will eventually end up back at Gweebarra Bridge and link up with the Glenties Greenway,” Mr Gallagher added.
“The Brian Friel Way will marry in with the Gay Byrne Trail and that will be lovely because both their families were great friends.”
Further down the line, another route will take in Crolly Bridge and Rannafast.
“The plan is that the Rosses will become a major walking tourism centre. The routes will link south of the Gweebarra to Gweedore and Dunlewey and north of the Crolly Bridge,” he enthused.
“Moya Brennan said we could eventually marry in with the Clannad Way, another name synonymous with the area. But, we’ll also have to find room somewhere for a Daniel O’Donnell route.”
On a more serious note, he said it was lovely to have something long lasting in the area in Gay Byrne’s name.
“Kathleen is also delighted with this project and the fact that it will be of major benefit to the Rosses and Dungloe area,” he concluded.
All pictures by kind permission of Mary Rogers.
