Group proposes cycleway extension to Shannon Harbour

A group is highlighting the potential of an extension to Shannon Harbour of the proposed Dublin to Galway greenway.

A group of greenway enthusiasts based in Ballinasloe is promoting the continuation of the Dublin to Galway greenway from Athlone to Shannon Harbour, linking two of Ireland's largest greenways.

The Royal Canal Greenway currently goes from Dublin through Maynooth and Mullingar, where a continuation to either Ballymahon or Athlone can be taken.

The Grand Canal Greenway is a separate route which begins in Dublin and caters for Sallins, Edenderry, Tullamore and Shannon Harbour.

The Athlone-Ballinasloe-Shannon Harbour Greenway Campaign is promoting the continuation of the Royal Canal Greenway from Athlone towards Ballinasloe and then a circle back to Shannon Harbour, which would connect the two routes.

A group of supporters cycled the possible route from Ballinasloe to Shannon Harbour via Banagher on October 21, about 30km, and believe it provided a positive vision for their idea.

John Kelly, a member of the committee, looked to the Great Western Greenway in Mayo as a prime example of what could be achieved with the Dublin-Galway greenway.

“When Newport got a connection to the greenway, Westport wanted to get involved. It's important to try and roll out the greenway on a town by town and village by village basis. A successful greenway in a nearby town fuels demand for expansion into neighbouring towns as residents can visit the greenway conveniently and get feedback from those affected first hand.

“Mayo County Council were great at identifying potential routes, planning those routes and finding alternative solutions when they ran into problems with land ownership.”

He also mentioned how the connection could add to the Ireland's Hidden Heartlands initiative run by Failte Ireland, which promotes the midlands as a tourism destination: “Further expansion of the route to Galway city would enhance the route potential, but it would be great to connect more towns and villages in the midlands to a circular route back to Dublin. As local people, we can suggest routes and raise public awareness, but it’s up to the officials to make the decisions and deliver for their people. We encourage them to engage with us and other stakeholders at the earliest opportunity.”

The route being promoted by the group via both canal greenways would create a 300km circular journey (the longest in Ireland) from Dublin without having the need to revisit locations on the way back to Dublin. Midlands towns also have strong rail connections which would provide a way for cyclists to return home or continue towards another location.

In 2015, plans to bring the greenway from Athlone west through Ballinasloe and onto Galway were put on the back burner due to objections from landowners and farmers in Galway.

However, in April, Minister for Transport Shane Ross announced that he was passing on responsibility for the development of the greenway beyond Athlone to Transport Infrastructure Ireland, raising hopes that the Athlone to Galway plan could be resurrected and a further extension to Shannon Harbour could also be considered.