New €10m Athlone to Shannonbridge greenway set to progress

The development of a greenway from Athlone to Galway appears to be getting back on track, with the announcement today (Monday) that transport officials have given their approval for an initial 27-kilometre section linking the town with Shannonbridge in West Offaly.

Local Minister of State Kevin 'Boxer' Moran warmly welcomed the news, saying the Athlone to Shannonbridge stretch would involve a €10m investment.

"This is a brilliant news story for the people of Athlone and the people of Shannonbridge," said 'Boxer'.

The Athlone politician said the long-planned greenway to Galway had been dormant for the last number of years, and that he had been doing a lot of work with various Ministers to ensure it got moving again.

Offaly County Council this afternoon stated that after "extensive engagement" with the local authorities involved, Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) had "approved the further progression" of the Galway to Athlone greenway project".

It said the greenway to the City of the Tribes would now be developed "in phases" - starting with the first 27km section from Athlone to Shannonbridge.

A preferred route for the greenway which was announced in 2023 indicated that it would begin from what is now the Mary O'Rourke cycleway bridge over the River Shannon, before skirting along the river side of Athlone Castle as far as the Big Meadow.

It would then cross the Shannon Callows, on top of the recently-constructed flood defences, before travelling south west of the existing Clonown Road, close to Cornafulla and Johnstown, and onto Shannonbridge.

Offaly County Council said the progression of the Athlone to Galway greenway had been the subject of "careful and thorough assessment" over recent months.

It said the "significant delay" to the project in the years since the announcement of the preferred route "reflects the genuine complexities associated with delivering a project of this scale and ambition across our five local authority areas".

It added that, after a review of the "complexities" associated with the delivery of the greenway project as a whole, it was decided to first advance "two priority sections" at either end - one from Athlone to Shannonbridge, and another from Galway city to Kinvara.

Of these, Athlone to Shannonbridge is to be the "priority phase" and is due to be developed "as a standalone scheme in accordance with TII project management guidelines," Offaly County Council said.

"Progression of the remaining sections will be contingent upon several factors including funding, portfolio prioritisation, and overcoming environmental constraints.

"We will continue to work with TII and our neighbouring counties to progress the route," it added.

The local authority said the delivery of a cycleway between Athlone and Shannonbridge would bring tourism benefits for the Midlands.

It said that, by linking Athlone with West Offaly, the route would "strengthen and enhance the collective tourism offering in the Midlands while creating potential for separate extended connectivity to Clonmacnoise and beyond when linked to the broader trails and cycleways under development".

The Athlone to Shannonbridge greenway will still require formal planning approval and the projected timeline for its delivery is not yet known.

However, today's announcement does suggest that progress will finally be forthcoming on the Athlone greenway's long-stalled development west of the Shannon.