Royal Canal Greenway

Looks like the greenway is getting closer and closer to Delwood/roselawn. I notice there's been a good bit of work on the Royal Canal "greenway" since I was last down near Leixlip. The surface is completed but fenced off as far as Confey. And further down toward the boat shed lots of the side vegetation and trees have been ripped out in preparation for the next phase.

I'm in favour of greenways generally. But when it comes to removing a beautiful natural trail like most of the towpath was, and destroying so much vegetation and mature trees, then on the whole I'm against it.

You can see the difference in the photos between what it used to look like in those sections, and what the newly laid tarmac and kerbstones looks like.

I say this as a someone who enjoys cycling, and appreciates a safer cycle route for kids. But something has definitely been lost in destroying the pre-existing grass/dirt/gravel trail , the trees etc.

(the Louisa-Congey section looks completed, but still fenced off in case some poor unfortunate trips over a sod of dirt and sues the council?)

From a runners/hikers perspective, a soft surface long-distance trail is now apparently gone forever.

I think u are falling for nostalgia. I was at this very section in Leixslip yesterday and beyond to Maynooth. For most of the year the pathway is unpassable for cyclists...or even squelching walkers. Change by way of the upgrade is needed to the entire Maynooth to city centre project. I too don't like old trees been ripped out unnecessarily but the entire project affords a chance to plant trees (e.g. poplars given they grow so fast and straight) and suitable hedging all the way to the Shannon. I've seen little by ways of plans to address enhancing flora and fauna for the entire project thus far..but it's early days. Waterways Ireland will probably say its not their brief. But it's easily done if there's a will. Coralling all the players e.g county councils, Waterways Ireland, Inland Fisheries, Irish Rail ..let alone nimbys...etc etc is the tricky part. Sadly that's always the way in Ireland.

Sounds like it was very exclusive for an elite few who had the ability to use it in winter. Surely anything making it more usable by everyone is better.

The north bank hasn't been touched in 50 years. It's completely returned to nature.

Unfortunately, that's what makes it so attractive for the planners to drive a bulldozer through.

Those photos are from Leixlip, not D15.

I’m not sure if you are referring to the whole route, a particular section? Or the other side of the canal (the north bit in Roselawn is not in use currently and is overgrown but the trail switches sides from porterstown bridge to maynooth).

There is a trail which is very popular with walkers from Castleknock station heading west.

it’s definitely worth going down to take a look at it. Rather than speculating on what it is and isn’t.

I don’t consider the tow path trail to be a “transport link”. It definitely not the most efficient way of getting into town for most people, unless you happen to work near its route. The Phoenix park would get much more d15 cyclist commuter traffic .

There are plenty of roads already, some have cycle lanes, and some can be retrofitted with them. Greenways are usually designed for pleasure not business.

but as I’ve said already, while I think we are losing more than we are gaining - I’m sure I’ll be cycling out to maynooth and beyond when the greenway is completed.

I have often gone the canal from Blanch (did via deep sinking once and once only) from portersgate school entrance

I prefer the gravel there and just after the cottage into maynooth.

I can't enjoy the natural surface as find it hard to get my MTB 29 tyre into some of the grooves in the muck/gravel and then the random rocks that kick the wheels up (handy if you're a thrill seeker and want too fly over it all)

So personally I'll be happy to see more of a path, but not at the cost of nature, always said something that blends in with the surrounding area, not just slap concrete etc in and stands out like a soar thumb

That stretch is already paved with concrete and tarmac from the last time i was there. are they just getting it up to "greenway" standards?

There's a new bit from Ossory Road at north strand/east wall to connect it to the final stretch leading to the liffey.

The new ramp probably reduces the slope to make it more accessible to wheelchair users. I would expect that the ramp to Drumcondra Road (currently very steep) would also be redone.

I never noticed that gate when passing it. I was thinking of the ramp from the other side of the bridge: https://goo.gl/maps/cyHjYnYew8eFJYAw7

I found some different drawings at: https://www.dublincity.ie/sites/default/files/2023-03/D542-F39-F50-P02-combined_0.pdf (34MB file).

From page 8 it make me think that the towpath under the bridge is being closed off and that a new ramp will be provided on the eastern (right) side of the bridge. The cross section in your image makes it look like the ramp could be a raise platform to the side of that Croke Park gate (as that gate bypasses the turnstiles I bet it was only used as a post-match exit).