Funding towards 'pilgrim Greenway' to Clonmacnoise an important step - Dolan

Local councillor John Dolan has welcomed last week's announcement of €95,000 euro in Government funding to help plan a Greenway from Athlone to Clonmacnoise.

"I was delighted to see the funding allocation to Offaly County Council from the Carbon Tax Fund announced last week," said the Westmeath Fine Gael councillor (pictured above).

"The €95,000 euro grant will enable Offaly County Council to fund 'feasibility, consultation, and environmental screenings' for the proposed Greenway.

"This study is the important first step in developing this great project," said Cllr Dolan.

"This is a great opportunity for Westmeath County Council to see how we can take a joint approach with Offaly to link Athlone with Clonmacnoise. After all, approximately 3km of this proposed greenway is in Westmeath.

"I have raised this project at council level in an effort to encourage Westmeath to engage and be proactive on this project, and now thanks to this grant received by Offaly there should be a proposed project for completion both in Westmeath and Offaly.

"As I have suggested in the past this project should include opportunities for former employees of Bord Na Mona to be involved and employed in delivering this facility," he added.

"This Greenway would be a major help to the tourism and recreational offering of both Athlone and the South Westmeath area, and there must be consultation with all stakeholders and the public as the design work starts."

He said credit must be given to the Athlone to Clonmacnoise Greenway Group which has been working to help make this project a reality.

"It is vital that we, as a local authority, support this project in any way that we can. I certainly will be working hard to make sure that Westmeath County Council gives this their full backing," Cllr Dolan concluded.