Potential rail connection to Ireland West Airport ‘gamechanger’, says Mayo councillor

A Mayo County Councillor has labelled progress on the Western Rail Corridor’s Claremorris-Athenry link, as well as potential links all along the Atlantic seaboard as a ‘game-changer’.

Recently, Councillor Patsy O'Brien, Councillor Gerry Murray, Councillor Michael Connolly, Councillor Richard Finn, and Mayo County Council CEO Kevin Kelly, were present at an event with Minister for Transport, Sean Canney, where the rail link between Claremorris and Athenry was described as a ‘project in motion’.

At the November meeting of the Claremorris-Swinford Municipal District, Cllr Murray started by updating those present on the current position on the Claremorris-Athenry development.

“Basically, the line is in situ,” he stated. “There's no planning required. There's no EIS. They can go to tender, procurement. There's no impediments, and this line could be opened within the lifetime of this council.”

Cllr Murray also detailed Minister Canney’s commitment that once Phase Two starts, the exploration of Phase Three, which would see the line extend from Claremorris through Collooney to Sligo.

“Once the tender commences on the Claremorris section, they will start preliminary surveys all the way down into Sligo and start doing the homework for phase three.

“They will also be exploring the possibility of a link to Knock Airport.”

Councillor Damien Ryan echoed those sentiments, and floated the possibility of even further extensions than those mooted through Mayo in the future.

“I think that's a massive game changer for the whole region, and that's eight or nine countries collectively.

“It may not even stop there. I think with the cross-border funding and peace funding and all that's available there, we could be providing a connection to Northern Ireland in the not-too-distant future.”

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme

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