current status of dublin to galway greenway

Thargor

Well thats the Galway route dead in the water for a few years anyway. Theres no point marketing routes like this to tourists though, there is literally nothing on them, its just a flat blank straight stretch with bushes and fields either side. Ive done the Grand Canal which has some sights to see and towns to visit and even that was more entertaining as an endurance test for myself, a lot of it was just flat blank landscape that would leave a tourist thinking they've wasted their money coming to Ireland, the Dublin-Galway greenway is even worse than that.

They should have taken a braver approach and spent some serious money making the Wild Atlantic Way completely safe for cyclists, same for the Ring of Kerry and basically the whole South Coast. Market it well and it could have become an actual destination and would have paid for itself many times over, have a look at the cafes in the middle of nowhere packed with cyclists in Wicklow for half the year.

I love cycling and I live in Dublin with family in Galway and Im struggling to think of a reason to do this, I can think of more interesting routes on existing roads if I wanted to do that cycle. I suppose all it has going for it is that its probably flat so easy going but thats not necessarily what serious cyclists want either...

ford2600

Moflojo wrote: »

This crap really grinds my gears. Either the landowners are being p***ks or the authorities f**ked up the planning and construction process. Either way, the greater good of Irish society is not being served.

While Local Authority/NRA incompetence is not unlikely or an awkward farmer or two; it's probably not that simple.

A lane way up the middle of a farm, in particular dairy farms, is a massive disruption on a daily basis along with problems with disease control/insurance/ access etc.

The solution is typically good quality fencing with a lot of over/under passes. With a combination of issues arising from making paths in compliance with requirements of wheelchair users and the design accounting for heavy machinery this solution gets very expensive very quickly.

While it easy to label all farmers as Bull McCabe types, it's probably a lot more complicated than that. I've no doubt there's a Bull or two in the mix though, but from my experience of similar projects most farmer's have reasonable objections.

schemingbohemia

Thargor wrote: »

They should have taken a braver approach and spent some serious money making the Wild Atlantic Way completely safe for cyclists, same for the Ring of Kerry and basically the whole South Coast.

How?

bonaparte2

ford2600 wrote: »

The solution is typically good quality fencing with a lot of over/under passes. With a combination of issues arising from making paths in compliance with requirements of wheelchair users and the design accounting for heavy machinery this solution gets very expensive very quickly.

.

Bang on the money.

That is the solution. And its not all that expensive.

BarryD

I'd be guessing that maybe part of the problem here is lack of initial consultation with landowners, who then get in a huff. The minister said yesterday that the aim was to have as much as possible of the route in public ownership to keep costs down, so it was likely approached with that mindset. The problems that the landowners were raising on the news last night are hardly impossible to address - gates can be automated so the chap doesn't have to climb down from his cab (though the exercise mightn't do any harm!) and security concerns are groundless. It's not the case that gurriers from Dublin are going to come along on high speed bikes and nick generators. More people about would mean greater public watchfulness and reduce farmer isolation at same time. The people on these Greenways are athletic types, families, local people - not thieves. Can't think what other problem or issue could arise except perhaps for a desire for payment?

loyatemu

ford2600 wrote: »

A lane way up the middle of a farm, in particular dairy farms, is a massive disruption on a daily basis along with problems with disease control/insurance/ access etc.

I haven't seen the map, but it would be easier to use existing local boreens and run the greenway on the other side of the hedgerows. That way you're not creating a new route or dividing farms up.

Qualitymark

BarryD wrote: »

I'd be guessing that maybe part of the problem here is lack of initial consultation with landowners, who then get in a huff.

…

Can't think what other problem or issue could arise except perhaps for a desire for payment?

The gombeen spirit is alive and well in rural Ireland.

galwaycyclist

Qualitymark wrote: »

The gombeen spirit is alive and well in rural Ireland.

In fairness that accusation could be thrown in both directions. The manner in which the project was conducted gave the impression of classic celtic tiger - pick the most expensive options possible and direct the maximum amount of money to well known civil engineering firms.

Qualitymark

galwaycyclist wrote: »

In fairness that accusation could be thrown in both directions. The manner in which the project was conducted gave the impression of classic celtic tiger - pick the most expensive options possible and direct the maximum amount of money to well known civil engineering firms.

Gombeen spirit is alive in public sector Ireland…

bovis

I just read the official detailed report. Seems that the Greenway had significant landowner support as far as Ballinasloe. The main opposition was west of ballinasloe. Hopefully we can get agreement in the medium term.

http://www.dublingalwaygreenway.com/2015/11/detailed-report-shows-that-greenway-had.html

loyatemu wrote: »

I haven't seen the map, but it would be easier to use existing local boreens and run the greenway on the other side of the hedgerows. That way you're not creating a new route or dividing farms up.

whisky_galore

Moflojo wrote: »

Landowner objections have caused the postponement of development of the Galway-Athlone section of the Dublin-Galway Greenway.

This crap really grinds my gears. Either the landowners are being p***ks or the authorities f**ked up the planning and construction process. Either way, the greater good of Irish society is not being served.

From today's Irish Times:

To be fair if the thing is being steamrollered through they've got every right to object. Flicked through the report and they seem to be more worried about Bord na Mona than landowners. Can I build something really small in the corner of your garden? Ah shure you'd hardly notice it was there...Thought not. It's all very well if it's someone else's property.

Qualitymark

whisky_galore wrote: »

To be fair if the thing is being steamrollered through they've got every right to object. Flicked through the report and they seem to be more worried about Bord na Mona than landowners. Can I build something really small in the corner of your garden? Ah shure you'd hardly notice it was there...Thought not. It's all very well if it's someone else's property.

So true. Same with the eejit electricity companies who put up windmills. If they had a titter of sense they'd offer free electricity to everyone living within a kilometre of a turbine at the time it was built. I'll go bail that all the shouting would instantly die down to a "Hmm…" Nothing so powerful as an offered advantage.

kildarecommuter

Cycled Mullingar-Athlone today stopped in Moate on way back for coffee in golf club beside station( Signs up cyclists welcome), nice spin will be great when they complete canal section through Kildare and Meath.

Wichita Lineman

kildarecommuter wrote: »

Cycled Mullingar-Athlone today stopped in Moate on way back for coffee in golf club beside station( Signs up cyclists welcome), nice spin will be great when they complete canal section through Kildare and Meath.

We've installed bike racks there now at Moate Golf Club too and I noticed a few cyclists availing of them and the restaurant facilities yesterday.

loudymacloud

planning a cycle from North County Dublin to Athlone via Mulligar on easter Sunday, so I cant wait to get on the greenway, have heard nothing but good things about it.

was going to ask about any potentail stops but its just been pointed out there is one in Moate, which is grand.

joey100

What route are you looking at going Loudy, sounds like a good spin.

mr spuckler

i did it last year Loudy, before the greenway had officially opened. you can get onto the canal towpath between kinnegad and mullingar, follow that into mullingar town then just need to find your way to the greenway. hopefully at this stage they have some signs up for the start of it in mullingar? i struggled to find it at the time and i know the town fairly well!

i just followed the old N4 from dublin to kinnegad btw.

not sure what bike you're on but the towpath was perfectly fine for my road bike.

loudymacloud

had not really decided on the route yet, I have cycled from Dublin to Athlone a couple of times, following the N4 to Kinnegad and onwards to Athlone.

Had looked into getting onto that canal path but was never too sure where it started or what state its in.

was going to head from Donabate and go across towards Rathoath and Dunshaughlin, that general direction.

i'll just wing it, I have GPS on the phone, sure what could go wrong

mr spuckler

loudymacloud wrote: »

had not really decided on the route yet, I have cycled from Dublin to Athlone a couple of times, following the N4 to Kinnegad and onwards to Athlone.

Had looked into getting onto that canal path but was never too sure where it started or what state its in.

was going to head from Donabate and go across towards Rathoath and Dunshaughlin, that general direction.

i'll just wing it, I have GPS on the phone, sure what could go wrong

are you me? :eek:

i had done the same a few times, the old main road is very boring so i was delighted when this became an option! finding the canal towpath is very easy if coming from kinnegad, just use the old mullingar road out of kinnegad for a short stretch, then follow the road that's signposted for killucan and it's a few miles down that road, the canal crosses under the road so you can't miss it
alternatively you could just follow the old mullingar road much further towards the downs and the canal crosses that road further along also (this option would shorten the spin).

will be interested to hear how you get on as i've often thought of doing those back roads but always chicken out on the basis of a general absence of hard shoulder.

loudymacloud

Cheers Mr Spuckler

looking at google maps i was thinking of coming out around the downs and getting on the towpath there.

you are right, that main road is quite boring, but like yourself was too unsure about hitting the back roads, but I do now want to avoid going through any part of the city.

so i will bite the bullet and head across country

mr spuckler

loudymacloud wrote: »

Cheers Mr Spuckler

looking at google maps i was thinking of coming out around the downs and getting on the towpath there.

you are right, that main road is quite boring, but like yourself was too unsure about hitting the back roads, but I do now want to avoid going through any part of the city.

so i will bite the bullet and head across country

i'll be doing this cycle from raheny once or twice later in the year so will be keen to hear how you got on

loudymacloud

i'll stick a bit of a report up here when ive it done.

kildarecommuter

Your best bet is to follow old N4 to kinnegad and take right turn signposted Killucan at Mullingar end of village, you'll come to candl bridge and towpath few Kms down the road.
There's a pub restaurant at Thomastown Harbour Nanny Quinns where you join canal if your hungry or need coffee.
Follow canal right through Mulllingar and the there is a path onto greenway from canal at Athlone end of Mullingar.

flazio

Isn't the canal path tarmaced from Furey's bar Moyvalley (halfway between Enfield and Kinnegad on the old N4) looks like it from street view.

kildarecommuter

flazio wrote: »

Isn't the canal path tarmaced from Furey's bar Moyvalley (halfway between Enfield and Kinnegad on the old N4) looks like it from street view.

It's tarmacced or gravel hardcore all the way through Westmeath from Meath border to Longford border, it may be done in other spots but no idea if it's ok from moyvalley onwards through Meath

bovis

kildarecommuter wrote: »

It's tarmacced or gravel hardcore all the way through Westmeath from Meath border to Longford border, it may be done in other spots but no idea if it's ok from moyvalley onwards through Meath

As Kildarecommuter said in a previous post the tarmacking starts in Thomastown/killucan. From moyvalley to killucan it's mainly grassey uneven canal towpath. Some vegetation clearing has taken place recently but the surface isn't greenway standard until thomastown/killucan.

If you're interested, we have posted a status update on the Dublin Galway Greenway on our blog:
http://www.dublingalwaygreenway.com/2016/05/you-asked-whats-going-on-with-dublin.html

galwaycyclist

bovis wrote: »

As Kildarecommuter said in a previous post the tarmacking starts in Thomastown/killucan. From moyvalley to killucan it's mainly grassey uneven canal towpath. Some vegetation clearing has taken place recently but the surface isn't greenway standard until thomastown/killucan.

If you're interested, we have posted a status update on the Dublin Galway Greenway on our blog:
http://www.dublingalwaygreenway.com/2016/05/you-asked-whats-going-on-with-dublin.html

I am afraid this part of your article is incorrect

As a background, the Dublin Galway greenway will be Ireland’s first cross-country cycle route covering a total distance of 210 km. It started as a strategic project for the Fine Gael/Labour government and was announced to great fanfare by Minister Leo Varadkar in 2012.

To my knowledge official proposals for a route on the Dublin Galway corridor go back to 1998 and the designation of Eurovelo2 capitals route.

http://www.eurovelo.com/en/eurovelos/eurovelo-2

So it has been around as a European project for best part of two decades.

bovis

Thanks @galwaycyclist, you are correct. I am not sure how long the Eurovelo route has been planned but I agree with you that the Dublin Galway greenway is part of the Eurovelo Route#2. I have changed the article to read as follows.

The greenway forms a critical part of the Dublin to Galway Euro Velo Route #2 and was announced as a strategic government project by Minister Leo Varadkar in 2012.

galwaycyclist wrote: »

I am afraid this part of your article is incorrect



To my knowledge official proposals for a route on the Dublin Galway corridor go back to 1998 and the designation of Eurovelo2 capitals route.

http://www.eurovelo.com/en/eurovelos/eurovelo-2

So it has been around as a European project for best part of two decades.

galwaycyclist

bovis wrote: »

Thanks @galwaycyclist, you are correct. I am not sure how long the Eurovelo route has been planned but I agree with you that the Dublin Galway greenway is part of the Eurovelo Route#2. I have changed the article to read as follows.

The greenway forms a critical part of the Dublin to Galway Euro Velo Route #2 and was announced as a strategic government project by Minister Leo Varadkar in 2012.

Well back in 1998, 1999 I was taking phone calls from Brussels to discuss it.

If it hasn't been on Government agendas in the meantime it is arguably because they have been studiously ignoring cycling as a tourism product (along with other aspects of cycling).

Carawaystick

I went down from North Co. Dublin in March.

Ashbourne, Rathoath Dunseachlin(sp?) Rathmoylon Summerhill and got to the Canal at Hill of Down.
It's a tarmac road up to the next bridge, then the route swaps bank to the south bank and its 3-5km of awful rutted track until you get to Westmeath

Then the surface is either rolled dust or tarmac until Mullingar. The rolled dust is ok, apart from a piece near the cutting approaching Mullingar where Frost has loosened it a bit.

After the canal crosses the N4, There's a few gates to open and close which are a bit annoying, but at least they're passable on any bike, unlike kissing gates.