Councils 'engaging with Bord na Móna' on Clonmacnoise greenway plan

Local authorities have been engaging with Bord na Móna on the development of a proposed cycleway link between Athlone and Clonmacnoise, a recent council meeting was told.

The ambition of establishing a 'Pilgim's Route' cycleway to Clonmacnoise emerged in recent years, and a voluntary group was set up locally in support of it.

However, Athlone councillor Aengus O'Rourke this month requested an update on where things currently stood with the proposal.

At the January meeting of the Athlone Moate Municipal District, Cllr O'Rourke asked if the project had been fully scoped and priced, if it had been granted funding to proceed, and whether it was being driven by the county council in Westmeath or in Offaly.

A written reply to his questions stated that "preliminary work on this proposed greenway link" had been undertaken by consultants to Offaly County Council, in conjunction with Westmeath County Council's Transportation Department.

"This project will be progressed, following the publication of the national NTA Cycle Connects network, in the context of county and regional priorities," council management stated.

Cllr O'Rourke said Bord na Móna was "absolutely key to any successful outcome in relation to this" and he asked if both county councils were "locked in" with the semi-state company in relation to advancing it.

"We agree that Bord na Móna are key, and there is engagement with Bord na Móna on it," replied Westmeath County Council director of services Barry Kehoe.

Cllr O'Rourke then asked Mr Kehoe if he was "more optimistic" that the greenway could ultimately come to pass.

"I certainly would be," replied the council official.

"We have work to do. A fair amount of this route would go through Bord na Móna lands, but some of it would have to go through private land," he added.