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Half of Connemara landowners reach agreement in principle over greenway
Almost half of landowners affected by plans for a greenway between Clifden and Oughterard have reached agreement in principle with the county council.
At a meeting of Conamara Municipal District Council this week (18/2), councillors were told that the Department has sought additional information about the 32 kilometre route, which has been submitted in the past week.
Council officials told the meeting that the council would only issue Compulsory Purchase Orders if it needs to in small packets of Connemara.
Councillor Séamus Walsh told the meeting that landowners he has spoken to, feel they are not being listened to.
Senior Technician with the county council, Kurt Lydon said that there are 55 landowners involved in the first part of the greenway scheme from Clifden to Oughterard.
He said the council has met with 50 of these and 25 have signed an agreement in principle to meet with a land valuer.
A further 20 landowners said they would agree to meet a valuer but would not sign anything at this point.
Councillor Walsh said that there is a general acceptance of the greenway, provided the landowners are accommodated.
Council officials replied that there is not an ‘infinite amount of scope to move’ the planned greenway route as planning permission has been granted.
Councillor Tom Welby told the MDC meeting that the section of greenway at Ballynahinch is the best in the country and locals have said it has been a great amenity in the area.
More at 11
The death has occurred of the former Bishop of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora Martin Drennan, six years after he announced his retirement on health grounds. He was aged 78.
The Galway Diocesan Office confirmed the death this (Saturday) afternoon of the Bishop and Apostolic Administrator Emeritus, who oversaw the Diocese for eleven years.
Born on January 2, 1944 in Piltown, County Kilkenny, he studied for the priesthood at Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth, from where he was ordained to the priesthood in 1968. His brother Michael is also a priest.
Following his ordination, he continued his studies in Rome where he was awarded a Licentiate in both sacred theology and sacred scripture. He returned to Rome in 1980 to become spiritual director at the Pontifical Irish College for the next five years.
He became a lecturer in sacred scripture at Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth, where he continued to teach until his appointment as Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin in 1997 with responsibility for East Wicklow and South Dublin.
Following the retirement of Bishop James McLoughlin, Bishop Drennan was appointed Bishop of Galway and Kilmacduagh and Apostolic Administrator of Kilfenora and he was installed on July 3, 2005 in Galway Cathedral.
Outgoing Cllr Terry O’Flaherty (Ind) is on course to retain her City Council seat – and top the poll in City East.
With 33% of the boxes tallied, Cllr O’Flaherty is polling strongly, particularly in Renmore.
Michael John Crowe is ahead of his running mate Alan Cheevers for the Fianna Fáil vote, according to the early figures, although that could change when Doughiska and Roscam boxes are opened.
The Green Party’s Claire Hillery is on about 7%, with Fine Gael on 10% and Sinn Fein on 5%.
The opening of boxes for the local elections began at 9am this morning in Leisureland when the tallymen (and women) kicked into gear.
As regards the Galway County Council elections, the smaller areas are being opened first which means that the four-seater Connemara North boxes will be first in the pecking order.
It will be followed by Gort-Kinvara (5 seats), Connemara South (5 seats), Athenry-Oranmore (7 seats), Ballinasloe (6 seats), Loughrea (5 seats) and finally Tuam (7 seats).
The boxes in these areas will be opened and tallied in that particular order before being transferred to the Galway Lawn Tennis Club on Threadneedle Road where the counting will commence around mid-morning.
That is when the fun will really begin – although the tallies should give a good indication as to where most of the seats are destined.
As regards the city, the Galway City East boxes were opened first, followed by Galway City Central and finally Galway City West. These votes will be transferred to the Westside Centre by around 11am for counting.
There are 39 seats on Galway County Council to be filled with 18 on Galway City Council. The City Council count is expected to conclude on Saturday night but the County Council count – with seven electoral areas to be filled – could well go into Monday.
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