A new paradise for nature lovers: Milltownpass Woodland and Bog Trail officially opens
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Mayor Hazel Smyth cutting the ribbon, with Ronan Lynskey, chairman, Milltownpass Tidy Towns, Cathryn Hannon, regional manager of the National Parks and Wildlife Service, Ger Dunne, from Dalystown, of the National Parks and Wildlife Service; National Parks and Wildlife Service conservation ranger, Therese Kelly, and Carl Byrne, National Parks and Wildlife Service. LEFT, Cllr Hazel Smyth addressing the attendance. Eilis RyanImage 2 of 19
Rita Monaghan from The Downs was looking forward to trying out the new trail. Eilis RyanImage 3 of 19
Pictured at the entrance, from left, Damon Reynolds, Ballinasloe; from Rochfortbridge Daniel Donegan, Vanessa Donegan, Rachel Boyne, Holly Boyne; from Kinnegad Brooke Joyce; and from Rochfortbridge, Ciara Hennessy-Tone, Nora Tone and Mark Boyne. Eilis RyanImage 4 of 19
Paul and Rose O’Sullivan, Gaybrook, at the opening. Eilis RyanImage 5 of 19
All set for the opening were, from left, Thomas Cully, Harry Tone, Cathal Tone and Declan Tone, all Rochfortbridge; Patricia Leavy, Clonmellon, Eliza and Harry Butler and Shirley McCormack, Rochfortbridge. LEFT: Sculptor Richie Clarke, pointing to his carved barn owl – one of four of his art works installed in the woods. Eilis RyanImage 6 of 19
Enjoying the atmosphere, from left, Sinéad Burke and Darren Delahan, Johnstownbridge with children Aoibhín. Molly and Fionn Delahan; and from Rochfortbridge, Karen Delahan-Maher, Cody Maher, Jason Maher and Zayne Maher. Eilis RyanImage 7 of 19
Members of the Tone family, whose ancestors owned the cottage that stands alongside the trail. Standing, from left Nora Hennessy and David Tone, Rochfortbridge; Noel and Teresa Connolly, Coralstown, Patricia Leavy, Clonmellon, Martin and Carmel Cleary, Lusk, Declan Tone, Therese Cleary, John Cleary, Siobhan Tone, Rochfortbridge and Marie O’Rourke, Dunboyne with, in front from left, Cathal and Harry Tone, Rochfortbridge. Eilis RyanImage 8 of 19
Kris Trzcinski and Carly Trzcinska from Milltownpass with daughters Zoe and Mya, were looking forward to walking the trail. Eilis RyanImage 9 of 19
Mayor Hazel Smyth addresing the attendance. Eilis RyanImage 10 of 19
Sculptor Richie Clakre, pointing to his carved barn owl - one of four art works by Riche installed in the woods. Eilis RyanImage 11 of 19
Members of the extended Tone family outside their ancestors’ cottage, which stands on the route of the trail. Eilis RyanImage 12 of 19
In conversation at the launch, from left, Eamon Cleary, Milltownpass, Dermot Faulkner, Milltownpass, and Noel Connolly, Coralstown. Eilis RyanImage 13 of 19
Ronan and Aoife Lynskey of Milltownpass Tidy Towns, who were involved in the project right through the two years of development. Eilis RyanImage 14 of 19
Present for the launch, Anthony and Sarah Healy, Milltownpass, with sons Robert, Daniel, Simon and Aaron. Eilis RyanImage 15 of 19
Checking out the new trail, Christy, Vanessa and Gina Wright, Milltownpass. Eilis RyanImage 16 of 19
Kept busy dispensing refreshments to those who attended the opening were Mary Corcoran and Wayne Wright, both from Milltownpass. Eilis RyanImage 17 of 19
Angela Burke (left) and Michele Grennan, who cycled from Gaybrook to check out the new trail. Eilis RyanImage 18 of 19
Among those present at the launch were, Anto Wright, Milltownpass (left) and John Treacy, Clonard. Eilis RyanImage 19 of 19
Delighted to see their project come to fruition were, from left, Cathryn Hannon, regional manager of the National Parks & Wildlife Service, Ciara Carberry, director of the National Parks & Wildlife Service, and National Parks & Wildlife Service conservation ranger, Therese Kelly. Eilis RyanVisitors came from a large swathe of Westmeath’s eastern reaches for the official opening on Sunday of a beautiful new walking and art trail just outside Milltownpass.
The Milltownpass Woodland and Bog Trail takes walkers through a mix of landscape, delving 1.5km into state-owned land, preserved for the public. One of the features en-route is a ruined cottage, home in living memory to the Tone family, and the attendance at Sunday’s opening included many members of the extended Tone family.
Another highlight is the fact that the site is now home to four sculptures by the esteemed artist Richie Clarke, who was present on Sunday to see Cllr Hazel Smyth, mayor of the Municipal District of Mullingar Kinnegad, perform the official opening. Mr Clarke’s sculptures are a hare, an owl, a curlew and of some snipe.
Cathryn Hannon, regional manager of the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), said the lands were acquired by the service for nature conservation, and to protect and manage fragile habitats for future generations as well as promoting biodiversity and nature awareness.
"And," she added, "for community groups and for people like yourselves to come and enjoy these special spaces for your own health and wellbeing."
Ms Hannon said there was a team of both NPWS and local people who had made the project possible, and she paid special tribute to local conservation ranger, Therese Kelly, before also thanking Carl Byrne, district conservation officer, staff member Ger Dunne, who had worked tirelessly. She also praised the local community, the Tidy Towns committee, and the Wright family who had allowed use of their business car park.
Tidy Towns chairman, Ronan Lynskey, echoed the thanks extended to the team from the NPWS: "The trail wouldn’t have happened without them and it’s fantastic to have the team here today that made this possible," he said.
Mr Lynskey revealed that there had already been a lot of praise for the amenity: "People that have been on this trail in the last few days have said to me about the wonderful sense of peace and calm that’s there on the trail and it is lovely to have a space that we can go to as a community to relax and get away from stresses and strains of day to day life and enjoy the trail for peace and quiet."
Cllr Smyth, remarking that she had grown up only around five minutes from the bog, said it was great to have "a new, wonderful space to be able to come and enjoy and bring friends and family to".
The Green Party councillor remarked that Milltownpass had long been a front-runner in terms of community working together to help each other, since long before rural electrification took place, the community had used a local mill to power the village.
She reminded those present that less that three per cent of the world’s land surface is made up of bogland, "but they are a vital defence in helping us fight the drastic effects of climate change, as well as playing a hugely important role in capturing carbon from our atmosphere and absorbing rainfall to prevent flooding".
The Milltownpass Woodland and Bog Trail is on the L1007 road between Milltownpass and Killucan.