'Madness' as Galway bypassed in first phase of Athlone to Galway greenway project

The Galway-Athlone Greenway has suffered another setback following a decision by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) to progress the Athlone-to-Shannonbridge section as a standalone scheme, while the Galway section remains on hold.

Published 3rd Jul 2026, 14:01 BST Iconic The Galway-Athlone Greenway has suffered another setback following a decision by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) to progress the Athlone-to-Shannonbridge section as a standalone scheme, while the Galway section remains on hold. Sign up to our Connacht Tribune Today daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know you can manage your profile, and explore all of the available newsletters from Connacht Tribune within your account.

The move was described as "hugely disappointing" and "madness" by members of Galway County Council.

“What will happen to people cycling to Shannonbridge? Do they turn around and go back?” said Cllr Peter Feeney (FG) at last month's meeting.

“I think it is madness to build a section that ends there. It is irresponsible to decant a load of cyclists and say, 'You have reached Shannonbridge'. We want to make sure people can enter our county safely.”

Councillors have urged both TII and the Department of Transport to include Ballinasloe in Phase 1 of the project.

“I would like to see Phase 1 extended to Ballinasloe,” said Cllr Alan Harney (FG). “It makes a lot more sense to continue on to Ballinasloe and provide onward connectivity. They might revisit this.”

Fianna Fáil Cllr Michael Connolly said extending to Ballinasloe “makes eminent sense”, while Independent councillor Dr Evelyn Francis Parsons expressed her frustration.

“I am extremely disappointed and this is not good enough,” she said. “We must be the most environmentally assessed area in the country at this stage. A lot of aligned projects are due to be carried out in Ballinasloe in the coming years.

“It is very disappointing considering how much money has been spent. After six years, we have nothing but a report saying it may or may not happen.”

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The Galway-Athlone National Cycleway is intended to link Ballyloughane Beach with Athlone Castle, where it will connect to the existing Athlone-to-Dublin Cycleway.

The preferred route, selected in 2022, passes close to Oranmore, Rinville, Clarinbridge, Kilcolgan, Kinvara, Gort, Woodford, Portumna, Meelick, Clonfert, Ballinasloe, Shannonbridge and Athlone Castle.

Transport Infrastructure Ireland has now decided to deliver the project in phases, beginning with a 27km stretch between Athlone and Shannonbridge.

Galway County Council said the project has been delayed due to “the genuine complexities” associated with delivering a scheme of this scale and ambition across five local authority areas.

The preferred route is located in areas of significant ecological importance and the full corridor extends for 200km across five counties.

As a result, the project involves “complex land acquisition, environmental planning and engineering challenges across varied terrain”.

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Due to funding constraints, TII has opted for a phased approach and identified two key sections: Athlone to Shannonbridge and Galway City to Kinvara.

“We had hoped, from a Galway perspective, that they would include a Galway section in the first phase, and we have made our views known,” said Chief Executive Liam Conneally.

While there was clear anger in the council chamber over TII's decision, the concept of phasing the project was broadly welcomed.

It will allow Galway County Council to become the lead authority for the greenway in the county.

“We pushed for this,” said Mr Conneally. “We want to be in control of our own destiny. Otherwise, another local authority would be leading a project in our own county. That approach will remove the uncertainty and allow us to get on with the job.

“This work is important for us. It will have a major economic impact. We need certainty around delivery.” Fine Gael Cllr Jimmy McClearn said “we are wasting taxpayers' money left, right and centre” and argued that funding should be diverted elsewhere, such as Safe Routes to School.

“We are still no further on,” he said. “There isn't a shovel in the ground anywhere. We are simply giving money to consultants year after year and it is not good enough.”

Independent Cllr Geraldine Donohue highlighted that the National Greenway Action Association presented to the Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture in May.

The advocacy group was formed by farmers, rural property owners and local community groups concerned about how greenway and cycling infrastructure projects are being developed.

In its address to the committee, the group said it does not want landowners to be viewed as obstacles. The group stated their opposition to compulsory purchase orders, survey access without consent and any route that would divide farms, arguing that the viability of family farms, property rights and rural communities must be protected.

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Cllr Donohue also questioned the overall cost of the project when “we can't even maintain footpaths”. Cllr Declan Kelly (Ind Ire) agreed that TII needs to “recalibrate on its allocation of money”, while Cllr Tomás Ó Curraoín (RepSF) questioned why the greenway was not built at the same time as the Galway- to-Dublin motorway.

Cllr Declan Geraghty (Ind Ire) argued that “every small community is crying out for money” and said that a “change in direction is needed as the money could be better spent”.

Meanwhile, Cllr Martina Kinane (FF) welcomed “any movement on the greenway” and requested that residents along the route be kept informed.

Chief Executive Liam Conneally said he would communicate councillors' dissatisfaction to TII and reiterated the benefits of a phased approach.

“It is better, from a Galway perspective, that we are in control of our own destiny in relation to greenway infrastructure provision,” he said.

“We have the expertise within our own organisation to deliver what we need.”

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