Local authority urged to back Clonmacnoise to Athlone greenway campaign

Westmeath County Council should drive plans to develop an Athlone to Clonmacnoise Greenway link via the ancient pilgrim route, a local councillor has urged.

The call from Kilgarvan-based Cllr John Dolan came just weeks after it emerged that the newly-formed Athlone to Clonmacnoise Greenway Group has submitted a funding application to the Just Transition Fund 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.

In the first phase, the application is proposing to connect Clonbonny (approximately 6km south of Athlone) to a point where the Bord na Móna railway crosses over the River Boor, close to the Offaly-Westmeath border, thereby giving access to places like Ballyduff, Clonascra, Bloomhill, and onwards to Clonmacnoise via the ancient pilgrim route cutting out the need to go on the busy Birr Road altogether.

The pathway would be a distance of around 2km-3km across bog or farmland, depending on the selected route, and would be suitable for cycling and walking.

The group is also proposing that this project would be undertaken, from the design stage to completion, by Bord na Móna staff and that the costs would be paid from the Just Transition Fund.

In a motion at the most recent Athlone-Moate Municipal District, Cllr John Dolan appealed for support from his fellow members to examine “ways of extending our Greenways through our cutaway bogs in conjunction with Bord na Móna,” something that was forthcoming from all political sides of the chamber.

He explained at the meeting that he had attended a conference in Longford pre-Covid where the Just Transition Commissioner Kieran Mulvey spoke, and he was very impressed with what he said, particularly details of a cycleway developed in Longford by the council where Bord na Móna workers were employed to do the work, something they took huge pride in seeing it as their legacy. “If Longford can do it, why can't we?” he asked.

Cllr Dolan believes developing an Athlone to Clonmacnoise Greenway link could be very important for the immediate locality, and have a major impact on nearby towns like Athlone, given that it would develop a round trip of around 40km.

He called for Westmeath County Council to get involved in plans for the project and drive it forward in conjunction with the voluntary group, and Offaly County Council.

He commended Athlone to Clonmacnoise Greenway Group on their application to the Just Transition Fund, adding that the least the local authority should do now is engage with them and be proactive.

“The money is there, it would give employment and you'd leave yourself with a great amenity,” the Fine Gael public representative argued, adding in a call for an invite sent to see if Kieran Mulvey, the Just Transition Commissioner, could come and address them in future.

Cllr Aengus O'Rourke (FF) said Westmeath has not been as engaged in the process as Offaly and he called them out on that, telling Cllr Dolan he is 100% behind his motion because the value of any greenway is the spurs or links off it, and the variety provided by that.

The Fianna Fáil councillor praised Paul Mulvey and Flan Barnwell from the Athlone to Clonmacnoise Greenway Group, both of whom were present in the public gallery, for their application which so well put together and wished them well.

Also supporting the project was Cllr Tom Farrell, who called for a meeting between the three councils in Longford, Westmeath and Offaly given that Bord na Móna worked all around the Midlands and the connection is there. He also supported a call for Kieran Mulvey to be invited to speak at a meeting of the Athlone-Moate Municipal District.

Anything that the council can do to get this over the line should be done, Green Party Cllr Louise Heavin said during the lengthy discussion, adding that the local authority should be engaging with Bord na Móna on the issue.

While he acknowledged the value of the Athlone to Clonmacnoise Greenway plans, Cllr Frankie Keena said the council has to be conscious of other projects who have applied to the Just Transition Fund for grant aid, including one in Baylin and Ballinahown. He was of the view that the four submitted should be discussed and pushed on, not just one application.

Cllr Liam McDaniel from Kilbeggan pointed to the “great potential” of 80 miles of Bord na Móna rail line which he knows very well, and he praised the idea of developing a Greenway.

The second phase of the Athlone to Clonmacnoise Greenway Group's submission concerns the retention of the industrial rail track across the bog from Athlone to Shannonbridge.

He stressed that the Just Transition Fund is for those losing employment in Bord na Móna, and if there is work to be done on a Greenway project like the one proposed, it is they (BNM staff) who should be doing it.

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

Damien Brennan, who was standing in for the absent Director of Service, Barry Kehoe, acknowledged all of the points made during the discussion and promised to relay them back to CEO, Pat Gallagher. He said it was good that a community group was in a position to apply for funding, not just the local authority, but he acknowledged there is an opportunity there with Just Transition.

Mr Brennan told the meeting that Westmeath County Council has a very good working relationship with their counterparts in Offaly in terms of developing infrastructure, pointing to the Kilbeggan/Ballycommon Greenway along the Grand Canal as a good example.

Concluding the discussion, Cllr John Dolan thanked members for their support of the motion and congratulated the group who addressed the council several years ago on the Greenway idea and haven't given up. “We need to take a leaf out of Longford's book,” he ended.