Pedestrian link between Killucan and Rathwire and Royal Canal Greenway at Thomastown suggested

A suggestion that a pedestrian link between the villages of Killucan and Rathwire and the Royal Canal Greenway at Thomastown be created was made at the September monthly meeting of Mullingar Municipal District (MMDC).

Cllr John Shaw proposed that the MMDC work with local groups in the Killucan area to create a link.

The MMDC’s response stated that it has applied for funding under the Rural Recreation Grant Scheme for a cycleway and pedestrian link from Rathwire to the Royal Canal Greenway at Thomastown.

“Notification of grant allocations is awaited,” the reply concluded.

Cllr Emily Wallace supported the motion saying it would bring great benefit to the area.

Dogs on Greenway

Cllr Shaw went on to raise an associated issue: that of unsupervised dogs at the greenway at Thomastown.

Cllr Shaw told the meeting that there is an ongoing problem with “out of control” dogs on the route.

“It’s one of the biggest tourist attractions out in the Killucan area and now there are people telling me that on an ongoing basis, they are unable to use it,” he said.

Cllr Shaw enquired whether the new by-laws for the Old Rail Trail apply on the greenway as well, and said it was a shame that people who cannot control their dogs are ruining the experience for others.

The written response to Cllr Shaw stated that Control of Dogs Act does not require owners to have a dog on a leash.

The owner is required to have them under ‘effectual control’.

“Without the introduction of by-laws requiring dogs to be on a leash when exercising them on a greenway, there will be a difficulty with enforcement,” the response concluded.

Support for Cllr Shaw’s motion came from Cllr Sorca Clarke, who said that when drawing up the by-laws they had specified that dogs on the greenway had to be on a leash, and that while they are called the Old Rail Trail by-laws, they had also referenced the greenway, and members had intended the rules to apply on the greenway.

Cllr Una D’Arcy said a child of her acquaintance was attacked by a dog this summer and she required 15 hours of stitching. “Cllr Shaw is not just talking about the annoyance of a dog jumping on you when you are in your Sunday best,” she stated.

“This is a specific and a serious issue and he requires support.”

Responding, director of services, Martin Murray said that he was aware of the issue to which Cllr Shaw was alluding, and he revealed that both the dog warden and the county veterinary officer had been out to investigate the situation.

On the subject of by-laws, he reminded councillors that as these were being drawn up, it had been explained to them that while the council had a licensing arrangement in place with regard to the Old Rail Trail, it did not have control of the route alongside the canal, just a memorandum of understanding.

“So there’s a distinct difference between the two,” he said.

The by-laws are currently at public consultation stage and so are not yet passed nor adopted.

Cllr Shaw remarked that Waterways Ireland would have a responsibility for the canal greenway.

“They have a role to play in solving this problem,” he said, suggesting that the MMDC write to them over the dogs issue.

“Too many people are not able to use that amenity and it’s going on six to eight months at this stage.”