Greenways: Boyne Valley to Lakelands ‘gamechanger’

The allocation of €500,000 to the Boyne Valley to Lakelands County Greenway is a game-changer for the project according to Cllr Eugene Cassidy who has been the driving force behind it for years.

“The fact that Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) is making this allocation means it is now a project of national importance rather than of local importance,” he said

Cllr Cassidy said last week's announce brings to €1 million the sum allocated to the greenway in a two weeks period.

“This announcement is a game changer, a landmark on the future direction of this greenway.

“TII has acknowledged that Boyne Valley to Lakelands County Greenway is a strategic part of their National Greenway Strategy. In time this greenway will not only go from Navan to Kingscourt but continue to Carrickmacross and on to Dundalk. It will join the greenway going north into Northern Ireland. From Navan it will join the Boyne Greenway to Drogheda and continue south towards Dublin. It took 10 years to get where we are today and probably another 10 to do what I'm talking about,” he said.

Next year, should see the greenway completed from Navan to Nobber. Work on the Nobber/Castletown stretch has gone out to tender and work on the Wilkinstown/Navan stretch is ongoing.

“It is possible that we go to tender on the Nobber/Kingscourt stretch in late 2022,” says Cllr Cassidy.

The greenway which runs along the old Kingscourt to Navan railway line is predicted to benefit the region to a tune of almost €6million a year and the benefits are already plain to see.

“New businesses are opening and others expanding, as the route opens up villages like Kilberry, Wilkinstown, Nobber, Castletown and Kilmainhamwood to cyclists and walkers,” said Cllr Cassidy.

“Studies have predicted that the greenway will attract up to 150,000 visitors when it is fully up and running”.

There are two sections of the Greenway complete – the loops that link Nobber and Castletown to the old railway line and both are proving extremely popular with both local and visiting walkers and cyclists.

Rural and Community Development Minister, Heather Humphreys officially opened the Nobber Greenway two weeks ago announcing an additional €500,000 in funding.

That funding will be used to develop the section between Castletown and Wilkinstown.

Funding is already in place for the remaining sections to link the greenway all the way from Navan to Nobber.