New greenway opens in West Mayo

The new AbbVie Greenway Link was officially opened in Westport on Friday, with Cllr Flynn cutting the ribbon at 9:26am, marking a significant day for the town.

By Jack Good Published 26th Jun 2026, 13:30 BST Updated 26th Jun 2026, 13:31 BST Pictured at the official opening of the Abbvie Greenway link Project by Cathaoirleach of the Westport Belmullet Municipal District Cllr Peter Flynn, with fellow councillors Cllr Chris Maxwell, Cllr John O'Malley and Cllr Brendan Mulroy. | Conor McKeown The new AbbVie Greenway Link was officially opened in Westport on Friday, with Cllr Flynn cutting the ribbon at 9:26am, marking a significant day for the town. Sign up to our Mayo Live newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know you can manage your profile, and explore all of the available newsletters from Mayo Live within your account.

What a difference a day makes. No need for sun cream or ice pops this morning.

Umbrellas were the order of the day as the ribbon was cut by outgoing Cathaoirleach of the Westport Belmullet MD, Cllr Peter Flynn at 9:26am to officially open the AbbVie Greenway Link Project.

David O'Malley, acting as MC on behalf of Mayo County Council, welcomed attendees including Minister of State, Alan Dillon and Keira Keogh TD, the tourism team from Mayo County Council, and Vincent Gibbons and Neil McAllister of AbbVie.

He paid tribute to AbbVie for facilitating the relocation of a boundary wall to allow the new link to proceed, and acknowledged the work of Cllr Flynn and West Mayo councillors in bringing the project to fruition. The scheme was held up as an example of partnership in action between the local authority, central government and industry.

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Outgoing Cathaoirleach Westport Belmullet MD, Cllr Peter Flynn speaking at the opening of the Abbvie Greenway Link | The Mayo News The scheme was originally announced by Michael Ring, and Cllr Flynn reflected on how long it had taken to bring the project to completion. Thanks were extended to Joanne Grehan and David O'Malley for their work, while Tia Crowley was acknowledged for playing a key role at the time the project was first being developed.

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The long history of AbbVie's presence in Westport also featured prominently in the speeches. Cllr Flynn recalled that he and Vincent Gibbons both started working there in the 1980s, underlining the depth of the relationship between the company and the local community. He also noted that Minister Alan Dillon previously worked in the Botox facility.

It was also noted that AbbVie's planning record in the area has been notably smooth — the company has never had a planning application referred to An Bord Pleanála in Westport. Speakers stressed the importance of maintaining that spirit of partnership into the future.

“One thing that has always mattered in here is in all of the years Allergan has had planning applications put in, and we're talking the best part of fifty years, there hasn't been a single objection. It never ended up with planning application in An Bord Pleanala. That's down to the way people and the community recognise these work of what was Allergan then in his Abbvie now”, the outgoing Cathaoirleach of the Westport Belmullet MD said.

Cllr Flynn also welcomed the recent announcement that the Lodge Road scheme in Westport has been included under the Government's new Housing Infrastructure Investment Fund (HIIF), calling it a major boost for housing development in the town.

He praised the pressure applied by Fine Gael TD Keira Keogh and local councillors to get the project included.

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The project will see significant upgrades carried out along approximately 900 metres of Lodge Road, including improved pedestrian facilities, active travel infrastructure, public lighting, sustainable urban drainage systems, and enhanced safety measures for vulnerable road users. A new footpath on Lodge Road forms part of the works.

Cllr Flynn said the scheme has the capacity to support hundreds of new houses, and called on the community and landowners to work with the council to bring the project forward. He said the council wants to see the footpath delivered within 12 months. The relief road, he added, has already made a huge impact on the town.

If you speak to any large employer right now, people cannot simply come to town like Westport or indeed Mayo because there simply isn’t housing or accommodation”, he said to emphasise the importance of the projects like this.

Peter Duggan, Director of Finance with Mayo County Council, described the greenway link as an important addition to Mayo's active travel network. Funding for the project consisted of €200,000 from the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, with a further €85,000 from Mayo County Council, supplemented by funding provided by local councillors.

Speaking at the event, Vincent Gibbons of AbbVie said: "AbbVie is proud to be part of the local community for 50 years."

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