Preferred Option for Kilbeggan Mullingar greenway published
Westmeath County Council, in conjunction with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), has announced to all stakeholders, landowners, members of the public and interested parties the selection of the Preferred Option for the Kilbeggan to Mullingar Greenway project.
The project intends to deliver a greenway from Kilbeggan to Mullingar which will form a key strategic link between the established greenway infrastructure on the Grand Canal Greenway (linking Kilbeggan to Tullamore) and the Old Rail Trail and Royal Canal Greenways (linking Mullingar with Athlone, Dublin, and Longford).
The National Cycle Network (NCN) includes proposals to link Mullingar with Tullamore, which this greenway would facilitate.
The Kilbeggan to Mullingar Greenway will be a recreational trail, providing tourists, commuters and leisure users with a dedicated corridor linking Kilbeggan to Mullingar. The greenway will be a purposeful recreational facility for use by cyclists, walkers and other non-motorised users.
The Emerging Preferred Route Corridor (EPRC) for the project went on display in June 2025, and 193 submissions were received as part of that public consultation.
Since then, the Option Selection Process for the scheme has been finalised. That process considered submissions and feedback received during the consultation period, along with maximising the use of state-owned lands and removing areas from the EPRC where it was considered unlikely that a route would be developed, thereby assisting the project team in finalising the Preferred Option corridor.
This Preferred Option (PO) starts at Kilbeggan Harbour and includes a section north along the River Brosna to Ballinagore. From there, it continues north to just south of Lough Ennell. At that point the PO includes a corridor linking it to Lilliput Adventure Centre. The PO then goes east towards Dalystown before turning north and continuing to the east of Lough Ennell. The PO includes both Carrick Wood and Belvedere House and Gardens.
From there, it continues north around Lough Ennell to the Lynn Road before turning northwest to join with the Old Rail Trail to the southwest of Mullingar.
This PO map, along with the finalised Options Selection Report is also published on the project website kilbeggantomullingargreenway.ie.
There is a hard copy of the report and map available to view in the Westmeath National Roads Office, which can be arranged by appointment.
Following the selection of the Preferred Option, the next phase of TII’s planning and design process, Phase 3 – Design and Environmental Evaluation, has commenced.
That will involve developing the project design based on both technical and environmental inputs, to a stage where sufficient levels of detail exist to establish landtake requirements, to identify and mitigate project impacts, and to progress the project through the statutory processes.
Throughout the Phase 3 process, the project team are committed to continuously engaging with people living, working or who own land and property within the Preferred Option corridor – however, the design of the greenway and identification of the impacts on land and property will take some time to develop.
In order to inform the design process, the project team will first undertake a range of engineering and environmental site surveys. The design team will be in contact with relevant landowners to arrange those surveys.
As the site surveys are completed, the preliminary design and environmental evaluation of the greenway can be progressed.
When the design has reached a level of maturity where informed discussions can take place, the project team will consult with directly impacted landowners in relation to the initial design and its impact on land and property.
Thereafter, feedback will be considered, and amendments may be made, where feasible, before finalising the design.
If you have any further queries or feedback regarding the project, make contact via any of the communication channels below to arrange an in-person meeting, telephone call or virtual meeting.
Website: https://www.kilbeggantomullingargreenway.ie/
Email Address: info@kilbeggantomullingargreenway.ie
Postal Address: National Roads Office, Westmeath County Council, Culleen Beg, Mullingar, N91 T2PE. Telephone: 087 671 3210 (9am-4.30pm, Monday to Friday).