New 150km Galway cycleway update ‘issue’ raised over revolutionary travel plan

A Galway senator has reiterated the need for progress to be made on the development of a 150 kilometre cycleway planned from Galway city to Athlone.

Senator Aisling Dolan, who hails from Ballinasloe, raised the longstanding issue in the Seanad recently with Minister of State Ossian Smyth. Project liaison officers have been consulting with landowners near the proposed path since 2021.

It was announced over a month ago that the proposed cycleway will be built in two separate projects as further headway is made in delivering the long-discussed route.

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The project would see the creation of a segregated walking and cycling route linking Ballyloughane Beach in Galway City to Athlone Castle, where it will connect to the existing Athlone to Dublin Cycleway.

The proposed route would follow the River Shannon south from Athlone to Portumna before heading along the south of the county to Gort and then snaking north to Kinvara, Oranmore and eventually continuing along the coast to Ballyloughnane.

Under a new approach, a 114km cycleway is to be developed from Galway to Portumna, which would be managed by Galway County Council.

A second phase of 83 kilometres, from Portumna to Athlone, would be managed by Westmeath County Council.

Speaking in the Seanad this week, Senator Dolan said: “This will transform our region. It will be a way to boost community activity. We talk about how we are delivering a balanced regional investment for the whole country.”

She also highlighted the potential tourism the project would attract and the benefit it would bring for families who could cycle the route together over the course of a few days.

“But, Minister, the key part here is that we’ve been doing this for years. I was involved in this consultation nearly 3 to 4 years ago.”

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