Locals lobby for Ballinasloe route as deadline for cycleway submissions nears

With Monday next (March 1) the deadline for public submissions on the Athlone to Ballinasloe cycleway project, locals, including the renowned composer and conductor Eimear Noone, have issued a final call for people to help ensure it passes through Ballinasloe itself.

Five route corridor options for the Athlone to Galway cycleway, which could potentially see it veer as far north as Mountbellew, or as far south as Portumna and Gort, were published last month as part of the current round of public consultation.

One of the potential route corridors, Route 3 or the blue route, would see the cycleway loop around by the flood defences that are being erected near the Shannon Callows on the west side of Athlone, before continuing through the wider Baylough and Summerhill areas, and onwards in a south-westerly direction towards Shannonbridge.

Depending on the route corridor that's selected, the cycleway will then either veer northwards, to Ballinasloe, before it reaches Shannonbridge, or else it will link with Route 4 (the yellow route on the above map) and pass through the village of Shannonbridge and onwards towards Portumna.

The Shannonbridge Action Group and others in Offaly are calling for Route 4 to be chosen, but several locals in Ballinasloe are urging people to make submissions for Route 3 to be used all the way from Athlone to Ballinasloe.

Another of the route corridor options, Route 2, would see it run parallel to the Athlone to Galway railway line, all the way to Galway, but there appears to be less enthusiasm for this option.

Eimer Noone, who hails from Kilconnell, near Ballinaloe, last year became the first woman to conduct the orchestra at the Oscars in Hollywood. She divides her time between Ireland and the US but is currently at home in Kilconnell and is backing calls for the blue cycleway route to be chosen.

"We love to cycle and walk in the local community park, not just for exercise, but for the joy of the banter with our neighbours and friends (sadly, socially distanced at the moment)," she said.

"Seeing the positive impact the Kilconnell community park has made on our daily lives – most invaluably during lockdown – has taught me the value of nature, the fresh air and chat with our neighbours and its impact on mental health in particular, which is why the cycleway is of such interest to me.

"My father Padraic Noone was a passionate advocate for positive mental health programmes and spent much of his career putting his ideas into practice. Of course, physical health and mental health are inextricably linked, and facilitating a pursuit that tackles both is a fantastic prospect!"

Antoinette Gallagher, of the Athlone to Ballinasloe Greenway Group, explained that it's been campaigning since 2017 to bring the cycleway to Ballinasloe and it now has an opportunity to make that ambition a reality.

"This development has so much to offer the community of Ballinasloe and the wider hinterland," she said.

"If we are successful, it will provide a safe off road space for walking and cycling which will be accessible to all users.

"We have a groundswell of cross-community support for this development in Ballinasloe and we hope that the consultants recognise this in their considerations."

Alan Harney added, "As well as being an asset for the community, the cycleway has the potential to start a new chapter for tourism locally. We have a wealth of accommodation and transport options for visitors as well as a variety of local attractions.

"As the gateway to the west, Ballinasloe is one of the larger communities in Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands. With this development, Ballinasloe could offer visitors direct access to a national walking route (The Beara Breifne Way), access to the Shannon Navigation system via the River Suck and a national cycleway."

Just under 200 people attended two public information meetings on the Galway to Athlone Cycleway that were recently hosted by Ballinasloe Fine Gael Senator Aisling Dolan.

Senator Aisling Dolan is calling on the public to make submissions, before Monday's deadline, at: galwaytoathlonecycleway.com.

“We have a once in a lifetime opportunity to transform our communities," she said.

"Thanks to everyone who put in submissions so far and please have your say – this is your chance to ensure the route comes near where you live, which will have a positive impact on towns such as Mountbellew or Ahascragh for example, if a route was chosen to go near those towns."