Bóithrín na mBan to recognise legacy of women in Mullingar

For more than 20 years now, families who have lost female members in tragic circumstances have been planting oak trees along a road at Butler’s Bridge in Mullingar.

Now, that tradition is to be honoured through an agreement at Municipal District level that the road – the L-11371 - should come to be known as “Bóithrín na mBan” (The Women’s Road).

The proposal originally came before the council in November as a motion from Cllr Aoife Davitt, and at last week’s meeting of the Municipal District, Cllr Davitt explained that the suggestion had been made by local resident, Matt Nolan, in a submission on the local area plan.

“I asked him to tell us why he had come up with this suggestion. So he wrote a couple of lines in relation to it,” Cllr Davitt told colleagues, explaining that Mr Nolan wrote that it was a place offering a “gentle, accessible walk” of up to 3km, especially popular with families and with women, who enjoy an evening stroll as the sun sets over Lough Ennell.

Continuing, Cllr Davitt told of the planting of the oak trees: “These living markers of loss, strength and continuity give the roadway a deeper emotional and symbolic meaning.”

She added that Mr Nolan had pointed out that it was worth noting the historical importance of the area.

“Research by local historian Leo Daly suggested that the original ministry of St Colman, Mullingar’s founding saint, was located very close to this stretch of road, possibly near what is now the Joe Dolan Bridge. Pinpointing the exact site is difficult, as the level of Lough Ennell has risen considerably since Colman’s time, but the association is compelling nonetheless,” she said.

Cllr Davitt added that Mr Nolan had suggested that since she – Cllr Davitt – was the first female cathaoirleach of Westmeath County Council, it would be appropriate to plant another oak tree there on March 8.

“It would be a simple but powerful gesture, one entirely in keeping with the spirit of the place,” Mr Nolan’s words read.

Cllr Davitt went on to remark that the route had become very popular thanks to the interest in the starling murmurations.