Bid for Clonmacnoise to Athlone greenway funding

A local group seeking the development of an Athlone to Clonmacnoise Greenway has submitted a funding application to the Just Transition Fund.

The Athlone to Clonmacnoise Greenway Group is seeking approval for an initial phase of the proposed Greenway, and also for the longer-term development of a light rail service across the bog from Athlone to Shannonbridge.

The group, which was formed in the last twelve months, is chaired by Paul Mulvey and its secretary is Flan Barnwell.

In its submission to the Just Transition Fund, earlier this month, the group emphasised the importance of developing outdoor tourism amenities, particularly in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic which is likely to see more people take holidays at home in Ireland.

"Irish people are becoming more climate change aware and there is an increasing interest in ecology in all its dimensions. The Athlone to Shannonbridge corridor has the potential to cater to these new tourist profiles and demands," the group states.

The funding application is for two phases of work, with the first phase proposing "a straightforward plan to connect Clonbonny (approximately 6km south of Athlone) to a point where the Bord na Mona railway crosses over the River Boor, close to the Offaly - Westmeath border.

"This is a distance of 2-3km, across bog or farmland, depending on the selected route. This would facilitate access to Ballyduff, Clonascra, Bloomhill, and onwards to Clonmacnoise via the ancient pilgrim route. The pathway would be suitable for cycling and walking."

The greenway group is proposing that this project would be undertaken, from design stage to completion, by Bord na Mona staff - "whose skills are ideally suited for this work" - and that the costs would be paid from the Just Transition Fund.

"Work on this section can begin immediately and when this section is completed the team could continue the trail towards Clonmacnoise on the western perimeter of the bog."

Speaking to the Westmeath Independent, group secretary Flan Barnwell pointed out that the completion of the initial 2-3km section would allow people travel from Athlone to Clonmacnoise without having to use the Birr Road.

The second phase of the group's submission seeks the retention of the industrial rail track across the bog from Athlone to Shannonbridge.

"When peat extraction is discontinued, a suitable light rail train service could be provided between Athlone and Shannonbridge," the application stated.

"Such a service would help resolve some of the practical problems associated with the popular tourist attraction at Clonmacnoise. The access roads to Clonmacnoise are unsuitable for the level of tourist traffic, and in addition there is limited parking at the site."

Mr Barnwell said there was a proposal to move some of the interpretive elements of the Clonmacnoise site to Shannonbridge, which was another reason why a light rail service between Athlone and Shannonbridge could be beneficial.

He said there was a lot of support in the Athlone area for the idea of improving connectivity with the Clonmacnoise site.

"I read Kieran Mulvey's (Just Transition) report, which I thought was a breath of fresh air, and it exactly fits the bill for something like this," he commented.

"Our point is, the more options you give tourists the better, and they then make the decisions.

"When the greenway is completed from Dublin to Galway, this (Clonmacnoise link) will be a significant means of trying to get people to stop over in Athlone.

"You would have bed nights in Athlone, and a chance for people to then visit Clonmacnoise, Lough Boora, Shannonbridge, Ballinahown, or any of the other tourism assets in the region."

He also said there was "clear synergy" between the greenway group's 'Just Transition' submission and other submissions from the Shannonbridge and Ferbane Development Groups.

The Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment Richard Bruton launched the first call for proposals under the €11m Just Transition Fund last month.