Over 25km of Boyne Valley to Lakelands route already open

The Boyne Valley to Lakelands Greenway which runs along the old railway track from Navan to Kingscourt will be officially opened on 12th May.

Almost the entire length of the 25km greenway is already open, apart from a section at The Poles, outside Kingscourt, where traffic calming measures are currently being installed and plans are in train to provide new car parks and looped walks along the route.

The official opening will take place on 12th May with Ministers Heather Humphreys and Jack Chambers.

Meath Co Council is now moving to provide two new car parks, as well as regularising an informal car park already in use at Nobber.

At last week's meeting of Kells Municipal Council, councillors were told there were plans to regularise an informal car park at Nobber and a contractor has been appointed to carry out drainage works at the area on the Castletown Loop Trail, which is prone to flooding. Traffic calming is also planned for Gibbstown.

Both carparks will have 17 car parking spaces and two disability spaces. They will also have a direct pedestrian access on to the greenway.

Plans are also in place for a 1.75 km footpath from the greenway at Gibbstown station to Kilberry and a 820m walkway from Gyproc to the greenway at Ballinaclose.

The part 8 application will be lodged by the end of this month and work is expected to begin in the fourth quarter of this year.

Cllr David Gilroy pointed out that Gibbstown was a Gaeltacht area and asked if signage would be in Irish and was told they would be.

Cllr Eugene Cassidy said that all the additional works would only enhance what this greenway has to offer and add to the overall greenway user experience.

“It is great to see such progress. The greenway is already extremely popular and is very well used.

“I am obviously delighted as I have campaigned for this for years.

The greenway runs the length of the Old Navan to Kingscourt railway line and runs from Navan to the Carrick Road in Kingscourt.

“Cavan Co Council plan to continue the route into Dun Na Ri,” Cllr Cassidy explained.