Shannonbridge Greenway welcomed as ‘gamechanger’
Pic: iStock
News that the Athlone to Shannonbridge stretch of a national greenway will progress was welcomed at the recent meeting of Roscommon County Council.
The proposed greenway goes through a significant portion of South Roscommon, with the preferred route going from Athlone, through Clonown, close to Shannonbridge, with a link to Ballinasloe and onwards then to Galway City.
Chief executive Shane Tiernan informed councillors that 27kms of the local stretch of the stalled Dublin to Galway project has been approved to proceed by Transport Infrastructure Ireland and the Department of Transport.
He said that the entire development, which extends almost 200kms across five counties, has been subject to thorough assessment.
“The significant delay since the identification of the emerged preferred route in 2022 reflects the genuine complexities in delivering a project of this scale and ambition,” he said. These complexities centered on environmental sensitivities and the deliverability of the route.
He said that following this assessment, a phased approach was being taken.
“Following a review, two priority sections have been identified for initial advancement. These are Athlone to Shannonbridge and Galway City to Kinvara. Transport Infrastructure Ireland and the Department of Transport have now approved progression of section 1, which is Athlone to Shannonbridge as a stand alone scheme.”
The progression of the remaining sections will be subject to a number of factors, including funding and overcoming environmental constraints.
He said that the council was pleased that the section had been approved.
The news was welcomed by the councillors of the Athlone Municipal District and others.
Cllr Laurence Fallon said it was good news and asked that it was critical that wherever possible that non-farmland was used.
“Secondly if farmland has to be used, it should not be dissected,” he said. “This doesn’t have to be a straight line, and with the route we’re talking about. the majority of it will be non-farmland.”
Cllr John Keogh said it was great news. “While some might have wanted it along a railway track, it is not very scenic, that’s the reality.” Cllr Valerie Duffy said it was fantastic, and she asked what the next stages of the project were.
Welcoming the news, Cllr Tony Ward said this was a long standing issue and he thanked Mr Tiernan for his work on it.
He said it would be so important for tourism in South Roscommon, bringing people to Hodson Bay, Derryglad Folk Museum, and Shannonbridge itself. “It’s going to be a game changer,” he added.
Mr Tiernan stressed that progression of the project was contingent on a number of factors, so it would be difficult to give a timeline.
“You don’t know what challenges you’d meet along the way,” he said. “But I’d be very hopeful that the next couple of years would see significant development.”
*Published as part of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
