Drogheda/Mornington Greenway plans go on display

Plans for the Boyne Greenway between Drogheda and Mornington went on public display yesterday as the planning process for the project continues.

Meath County Council has now responded to a further information request by An Bord Pleanala, which was sought in November 2020 and the proposals go on public display almost a decade after it was first mooted by a local group.

Cllr Elaine McGinty said it was great to see progress being made.

“This project will have a huge impact on the area, both in terms of tourism and for the residents of the area.

“The sooner it is up and running the better,” she said.

Cllr Sharon Tolan (above right) said after ten years they were now approaching the final hurdle.

“This will make a massive difference to the local economy but also to quality of life,” she said.

Cllr Tolan said she would be urging the council to now plan for a link between Mornington and Delvin Bridge where it would meet with the Fingal Coastal Way.

The proposed new section of the Boyne Greenway will consist of a pedestrian and cycleway which will commence at the junction of Tower Road and Crook Road in Mornington in County Meath and continue to Ship Street in Drogheda.

The greenway will be built alongside the existing regional road but in places it will veer away from the road to take advantage of the views across the Boyne estuary and also for road safety reasons.

When the proposals went on public display in 2019, Meath County Council received 2,764 submissions, almost 96 per cent of which were in support of the project.

But there was opposition also with some people questioning details of the route and others worried about the dangers to the environment and wildlife habitats in the Boyne estuary.

The news has also been welcomed by Cllr Wayne Harding who said he was expecting to have the emerging preferred route for the link from The Battle of the Boyne site at Oldbridge with Navan in the next few months.

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 Drogheda to Oldbridge is already in place.

"The Boyne Greenway has the potential to be one of the major tourist attractions in the country,” said Cllr Harding.

“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.

Meath Co 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 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.