Funding boost for Meath's walking and cycling trails

Walking trails around Meath have received a major boost with recent funding announcement for a number of local projects. A sum of €25,641 has been awarded by the East Border Region to Navan Town Council for the development of a walking tourism trail and signage. This is one of six projects funded in Meath. The total funding is approximstely €800,000. Some €50,000 will also be allocated to providing a pathway along the Boyne Towpath from the Battle of the Boyne site to the interpretative centre at Newgrange. Meanwhile, Iarnrod Eireann is continuing clearance work on the old Navan to Kingscourt railway line, which both Meath and Cavan County Councils hope will be developed as a walking and cycling route. Cllr Joe Reilly has welcomed welcome the funding for the walking trail in Navan. "The funding for Navan Town Council will enable the Boyne Walkway from the midlands to Drogheda, a project first proposed by Deputy Peadar Toibin," he said. He also welcomed the clearance work on the Kingscourt line. He pointed out that a number of legal implications would first have to be sorted out, but he hoped the project would go ahead as it would be a major tourist attraction. Cllr Eugene Cassidy welcomed the clearance of the railway by Seamus Duffy Plant Hire, Dundalk. He said the line could be turned into a cycle walking route just like the very successful cycle and walking route in Mulranney, Co Mayo. "Landowners along the route will have an interest in this proposed cycle route and their concerns will have to be addressed in the development of the project," Cllr Cassidy said. "I hope that Meath County Council and Iarnrod Eireann will work together on making this proposed cycle and walking route a reality. "This would hopefully result in Navan becoming a cycling hub in the county." Cllr Cassidy added that "cycling clubs like the one formed in Moynalty a few years ago, could avail of the facility". He said it had the potential to be one of the biggest amenity attractions in the county, with the prospect of attracting tourists from far and wide. "The rail line is 19 miles long and has two large towns, Navan to the south and Kingscourt to the north, and several small villages in between. It could be accessed or departed at several locations along the route so it could cater for the casual cyclist or walker or the more enthusiastic cycling enthusiasts,",Cllr Cassidy added. The rail line from Navan to Kingscourt passes by an archaeologically rich and historically significant area including various archaeological sites in the Nobber area including the historic St John's Old Cemetery, Nobber, the site of the Crannóg at Moynagh Lough, the scenic Whitewood Lake with its own crannóg, the Motte in Nobber and the rolling plains of Brittas. Meanwhile, Cllr Wayne Harding has welcomed €160,000 tourist-based funding for the Slane electoral area. Some €80,000 will be spent on improving access and interpretation at the Hill of Slane, greatly enhancing what is a much visited site. €50,000 will be allocated to providing a pathway along the Boyne Towpath from The Battle of the Boyne site to the interpretative centre at Newgrange and €30,000 will be spent on improving a slipway at Rathmullen along the river Boyne. "Additional funding has also been allocated to interpretation signage at Mornington," Cllr Harding said.