Tourism chiefs are kick-starting plans to transform Ireland's former canal towpaths into a world-class network of walking and cycling routes.
The ambitious proposals will open up 1,000kms of trails along the island's best known waterways as an eco-friendly attraction tapping into a global shift towards 'green' tourism.
State bodies driving the vision see canal sides country-wide as a unique opportunity to create a huge tourism, health and economic driver that would inject new life into once thriving areas that fell into neglect with the demise of canals.
Waterways Ireland, the cross-border government-appointed guardian of the canals, wants to see a two-pronged strategy rolled out over the next few years targeting both urban and rural waterways.
Eanna Rowe, the agency's Head of Marketing and Communications, said he envisages farmers' markets, restaurants and coffee docks alongside urban stretches like the Royal and Grand Canals in Dublin. In the countryside the new traffic-free waterside trails along the likes of the Shannon, Barrow and Ulster navigations would be dotted with B&Bs, hostels and campsites.
"There is massive potential here that is not being tapped into. There's no doubt about it," said Mr Rowe. "We are really at the planning stages at the moment. This has really only come to us in the last few months.
"Before this we were concentrating on the navigational aspect of the waterways. Now we are looking beyond that, at the towpaths."
Experts involved in similar projects overseas will come together with The Heritage Council, Waterways Ireland and local councils nationwide at formal talks in Tullamore, Co Offaly, later this month to hammer out a blueprint on the way forward.
The UK's leading sustainable transport charity Sustrans, which was behind the massively successful 10,000 mile cycle network there, will be among those involved in the think-in.
"The conference is really the second step in this process, it's about knocking some heads together," said Mr Rowe. "After this there will be a report by the Heritage Council, then we'll see what can be done. I would be calling then for a three to five-year development plan."
The project is expected to take relatively little public funding, given the huge spin-off potential, with more than 90% of the towpaths already being publicly-maintained, while renting units to the hospitality sector would also help offset costs.
Oonagh Duggan, Inland Waterways Officer with The Heritage Council, said there was potentially significant funding out there for councils who need cash to realise the transformation. She agreed there was a massive shift in Europe towards sustainable and alternative transport initiatives.
"There's a huge push for walking and cycling routes now. It's very high on the agenda," she said. "Ireland's inland waterways with their natural, built and archaeological heritage intact most definitely have the potential to be a world class tourism draw."