Work to start on new Athlone to Ballinahown cycling and walking trail
Construction work is to get underway on a new shared walking and cycling trail between Athlone and Ballinahown.
The trail is located on Bord na Móna lands and is due to pass through the townlands of Derries, Carrickobreen, Bunahinly, Clonbonny, Corralena, Kilgarvan Glebe, Ballinahown Wood and Ballinahown.
It is expected to be open for use by next summer (2026).
The announcement of construction work on the trail was made on Monday by Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke and Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment and for Transport, Darragh O’Brien.
It is one of two trails in Longford and Westmeath, on which work is to commence under Fáilte Ireland’s Regenerative Tourism and Placemaking Scheme.
The other is the Lanesborough to Cloondara Trail through BnM (formerly Bord na Móna) lands in Longford.
Fáilte Ireland said €5.7 million had been allocated to BnM to construct the 10km trail in Longford and the Westmeath trail from Athlone to Ballinahown.
Planning permission for the almost seven-kilometre cycle and walkway track on Bunahinly and Kilgarvan bogs outside Athlone was granted in December last.
The planning authority approved the project subject to 12 conditions, including that the bogland areas should be left “as undisturbed as possible” during the creation of the walking/cycle track and that hedgerow, tree or scrub removal should not take place during bird breeding season.
The council also stipulated that the services of an archaeologist be engaged to carry out an archaeological assessment of the site, and that a programme of “test excavation” be carried out in the areas where the proposed shared walking and cycling trail crosses peatland or green field.
The project willl see the repurposing of 3,412 metres of existing former rail bed, 3,131 metres along existing bog headlands/former high fields, and 473 metres along pre-existing machine access routes.
Other elements of the plan include car and bicycle parking facilities at a number of locations along the route; the provision of EV charging spaces; a modular pavilion; upgrades to the entrance from the local road, and upgrades to four local access road crossings and three agricultural crossings.
Co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the EU Just Transition Fund, these two new trails will be the first to be developed under the Midlands Trails Network which seeks to create a network of connected walking and cycling trails.
A development fund of €3.6million was awarded to BnM in June 2024 to bring six universally accessible trail networks across suitable parts of their landbank within the EU JTF territory through the planning process.
The network, once complete, could deliver up to 70 kilometres of trail, subject to planning consents.
The construction phase of the Athlone East to Ballinahown and Lanesborough to Cloondara Trail was officially launched by Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke, at BnM’s local workshop.
A custom walker totem, crafted by BnM personnel from former railway lines sourced from one of the trail sites in Westmeath, was unveiled to mark the occasion.
Speaking at the launch, Minister Burke said: “The development of these trails will have a positive and lasting impact on the Midlands. They will not only enhance the region’s appeal for outdoor recreation and tourism but also deliver real economic benefits for local businesses and communities."
He said it was a significant milestone in the journey to revitalise the Midlands through sustainable tourism and placemaking.