Linking the Battle of the Boyne site at Oldbridge with Navan

An emerging preferred route for the Boyne Greenway which will link The Battle of the Boyne site at Oldbridge with Navan will go on public display early in the New Year.

The news come as Transport Infrastructure Ireland announced €614,000 for Greenways in Meath before Chrsitmas, €100,000 of which will be spent on the Boyne project.

Work is ongoing on the design for the cycle and walkway between the Battle of the Boyne site and the preferred route will be discussed with landowners before going on display. A section of Greenway from the coast to Oldbridge is already in place.

"The Boyne Greenway has the potential to be one of the major tourist attractions in the country,” says Cllr Wayne Harding. “The beach in Bettystown to the Battle of the Boyne site is well advanced taking in the town of Drogheda.

“The villages of Duleek and Donore will benefit greatly and Slane Castle have been very proactive in developing a 5km route off the greenway around Slane village.

“Add in Bru na Boinne, Slane Castle and eventually a continuation to the town of Trim and you have 46km of spectacular beauty and views that can be navigated by foot, cycle or boat", Cllr Harding said.

"In time we will emerge from the pandemic to what will be a world class Greenway". He welcomed the funding announcement for the project.

Meath County Council has described the proposal as “a flagship tourism scheme of regional, national and international significance which will showcase the wealth and diversity of cultural, industrial and built heritage within the Boyne Valley."

The Council appointed WS Atkins consultants to design "a safe, attractive and environmentally sympathetic canal and river walking and cycling route" between Andy Brennan Park in Navan and the main gates of Oldbridge Estate, Drogheda in tandem with the restoration of the Boyne navigation route.

The completed scheme will provide "a high-quality walking, cycling and navigation route with connectivity to key towns and villages which will encourage physical activity and create a sense of ownership among the adjacent communities."

The stretch of the Boyne Greenway is approximately 26.5km in length and will also link with the Athlumney to Trim Road Cycle and Pedestrian Scheme.

Senator Shane Cassells said he was delighted to see the allocation of funding of €100,000 for advancement of the Boyne Greenway from the Ramparts in Navan to Oldbridge.

“This is a very important project for tourism and the economy in Navan and the Boyne Valley area,” he said.

Deputy Peadar Tóibín said the announcement was causing confusion, as none of the recent announcements of funding was enough to carry out the work.

“I have been working on this project for over 10 years. A feasibility report shows that the greenway will cost €2.4 million, but will generate €5.9 million in the local economy per annum".

"At the start of 2021 another consultation process was undertaken to work out the details of the Greenway extension to Navan. We warmly welcomed this. In March another €150,000 was announced to progress the project. In the last few weeks yet another €100,000 was announced for the project.

“On the face of it this all seems like good news. But there is precious little detail being given as to what this money is spent on. We cannot actually be sure if this is the same money re-announced by the government.

“The size of these funding announcements are not enough to actually build the Greenway," he said.