Royal Canal Greenway

The Royal Canal Greenway runs along the 225-year-old canal, guiding walkers and cyclists through the counties of Dublin, Kildare, Meath, Westmeath, and Longford.

Its development was made possible through a collaboration of local councils including Dublin City, Fingal, Kildare, Longford, Meath, and Westmeath, together with Waterways Ireland, Department of Transport, National Transport Authority, Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII). Irish Rail, CIE, .

Works are ongoing to connect the Greenway from Leixlip, Kildare to Dublin City Centre. The project is being undertaken in a phased approach with different sections under varying levels of planning, construction or completion.

Greenway Progress

Winding 146 km westwards from Dublin to the Shannon, the Royal Canal is undergoing works to upgrade it's towpath to a greenway for the entire length of the navigation. All rural sections are now complete.

Completed
Approximately 134km of the royal canal now has greenway trail completed.
With Consultant
Approximately 8km of greenway trail is with consultants in Fingal County Council. When completed, it will connect the rural and urban sections of completed greenway.
Planning
Approximately 4km of existing trail from Phibsborough to Ashtown has progressed to planning. This section will undergo greenway development next.

Development Status by County

Castleknock to Leixlip is only accessible as a hiking trail, it contains uneven ground with steep embankments in sections. All other Dublin sections are open for shared-public use providing direct city centre access. The surface, while accessible for shared-use, is not yet greenway standard between Phibsborough to Ashtown.

Local Authority	Location/Section	Approx. Length	Status
Dublin City	Spencer Dock - Phibsborough	3km	Completed
Dublin City	Phibsborough - Ashtown	4km	Awaiting Planning
Fingal	Ashtown - Castleknock	3km	Completed
Fingal	Castleknock - Leixlip	8km	With Consultant
Total Completed		6km

The royal canal greenway is now fully complete in Kildare. The most recently completed section of 8km was finished in Q3, 2025 joining the towns of Leixlip and Maynooth, and bringing the overall length of the Royal Canal Greenway up to 138km.

Local Authority	Location/Section	Approx. Length	Status
Kildare	Leixlip - Maynooth	8km	Completed
Kildare	Maynooth - Kilcock	6km	Completed
Kildare	Kilcock - Enfield	13km	Completed
Total Completed		27km

The royal canal greenway is fully complete and open for public use in Meath. The sections in Meath were completed prior to the official launch of the greenway in 2021.

Local Authority	Location/Section	Approx. Length	Status
Kildare / Meath	Enfield - Longwood	10km	Completed
Meath / Westmeath	Longwood - Killucan	15km	Completed
Total Completed		25km

Local Authority	Location/Section	Approx. Length	Status
Westmeath	Killucan - McNeads Bridge	4km	Completed
Westmeath	McNeads Bridge - Mullingar	12km	Completed
Westmeath	Mullingar - Coolnahay	11km	Completed
Westmeath	Coolnahay - Ballynacarrigy	8km	Completed
Westmeath	Ballynacarrigy - Abbeyshrule	9km	Completed
Total Completed		44km

Local Authority	Location/Section	Approx. Length	Status
Longford	Abbeyshrule - Ballymahon	9km	Completed
Longford	Ballymahon - Keenagh	9km	Completed
Longford	Keenagh - Cloondara	15km	Completed
Longford	Longford Branch	9km	Completed
Total Completed		32km

Dublin Development Phases

Status	Completed
Section	Spencer Dock to Sheriff Street
Funding Departments	National Transport Authority
Development Management	Dublin City Council
Land Ownership & Permissions	The scheme is being built on land owned by Waterways Ireland in partnership with Dublin City Council
Maintenance	Dublin City Council

Status	In Planning
Section	Phibsborough to Ashtown
Distance	4.2km
Contractor	Not appointed yet

Boat owner information

Craft registration

Permits

Dry docks

Winter mooring

Royal Canal Greenway

Greenway Progress

Completed

With Consultant

Planning

Did you know?

Development Status by County

Dublin Development Phases

Spencer Dock - Phibsborough

Leixlip - Maynooth