Farmers welcome review of Greenway

THE vast majority of farmers in East Galway have welcomed the decision to temporarily abandon plans for a walking and cycling Greenway passing through their lands.

The proposed Greenway from Ballinasloe to Galway passed through agricultural holdings and farmers feared that it would split their lands in two.

They voiced their opposition to the Greenway at various consultation meetings on the grounds that it would interfere with their farming activities.

As a result of their vehement opposition to the plan, Transport Minister Paschal Donohoe has decided to shelve this section of the coast to coast greenway for the time being.

But Pat Murphy, Chairman of Galway IFA, said that he was in favour of a greenway but not if it split farmers’ lands. “We have suggested possible alternatives and they should be investigated,” he said.

It is planned to provide an off-road cycle greenway from Dublin to Galway. The section from Dublin to Athlone is mainly along the Grand Canal which is publicly owned lands.

The section from Athlone to Ballinasloe is mainly through bogland but after that it was planned to provide the greenway though farmland. Senior Galway County Council officials claimed that around 40% of farmers were in support of the route.

But Mr Murphy disputes this claim and told the Farming Tribune that he had not come across any support for the Greenway when it came to the affected land owners. “That is not a true reflection of the attitude out there,” he remarked.

Transport Minister Paschal Donohoe decided to postpone plans for the Galway section of the cross-country greenway following the presentation of a report by the National Roads Authority.

The report revealed that the majority of landowners in Galway were opposed to the route as it would split land and farms.

The Government will now proceed with completing a 43 kilometre section of the greenway between Maynooth and Westmeath.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.