John Healy Road

OPEN AT LAST Minister Noel Dempsey cutting the tape at the official opening of the John Healy Road, assisted by Healy’s widow, Evelyn, and watched by local politicians and well-wishers. Pic: Eamon O’Boyle

Charlestown community celebrates landmark day

Michael Commins

THE Charlestown bypass, officially opened by the Minister for Transport, Mr Noel Dempsey, on Friday afternoon, will eliminate in the region of 7,000 vehicles a day from the streets of Charlestown. The 18.2km stretch of new road, built at a cost of €81m, runs from just outside Swinford to beyond Carracastle and means that Ballaghaderreen is now the first town that drivers will encounter on the road to Dublin after leaving Castlebar.
The new road has been named in honour of the late John Healy, the pioneering reporter from Charlestown who left an indelible mark on the national psyche in relation to rural matters. His wife Evelyn, together with members of the family, travelled from Dublin for the occasion. Also present were John’s brothers Gerry (Charlestown) and Kevin (Dublin) and their sister June Egan (Ballaghaderreen).
The new road runs through the ‘Nineteen Acres’ made famous by Healy in his book, the land where his mother ‘Nurse Healy’ (nee O’Donnell), was born and raised in Castleduff.
Minister Dempsey said it was entirely fitting that the road should bear the name of one of the west’s best-known writers in former times. He said John Healy had been an inspiration to him and to many of his generation and he was privileged to preside at the opening of a road that bore the name of the famous Charlestown man.
The blessing of the road was performed by the Rev Kathy Southerton, Rector of Tubbercurry Union, and Bishop Thomas Flynn of Achonry, himself a native of Ballaghaderreen. It was a joyous and solemn ceremony, expressing the heartfelt wishes for all to travel safely along the new road.
The chairmen of Mayo and Roscommon County Councils, Cllr Seamus Weir from Knockmore and Cllr John Kelly from Ballaghaderreen, represented both counties in their official capacity, while several members of Sligo County Council were also present. Children from the local schools provided a nice selection of music during the ceremonies.
The John Healy Road required the acquisition of 338 acres of land in negotiations with 152 landowners. A total of 110,000 trees and shrubs have been planted along the sides of the new road.
The main contractors for the scheme were SIAC Wills and the project came in well ahead of schedule. A wide range of innovative construction techniques were developed and implemented to overcome some technical challenges posed by the project. This team of workers will now transfer their skills and experience to the N6 Ballinasloe to Athlone dual-carriageway on which work has just commenced in recent weeks.
Mayo County manager, Mr Des Mahon, said it was a very special day for the western region. This was the biggest ever road project undertaken in County Mayo. “The new road will eliminate one of the most deficient sections of the N5 between Longford and Westport and bring Mayo and Roscommon closer to the east. At a local level, the people of Charlestown and Carracastle will benefit from the removal of up to 7,000 vehicles from their roads daily,” he said.
Fred Barry, CEO of the National Roads Authority, joined in the words of congratulations to everyone associated with this major project.
There were tributes to the Mayo County Council members of the project team and they were Des Mahon, County Manager, Joe Beirne, County Engineer and Director of Services, Tony McNulty, senior engineer, National Road Design office, and Richard Glancy, Senior Executive Engineer.
Also very much associated with the Project Team were Ryan Hanley WSP, represented by Sean Gannon, Phillippa Glennie, Richard Wilson and Richard Marklew. Representatives of SIAC Wills included John Mitchell, Michael Conway, Malcolm Duncan, Mary Healy, Luke Duffy and Paul Naughton while Charlie and James Wills from Ballylahan, Foxford were also present for the historic occasion.
RPS, the Design Consultants, were represented by Gerry Carty and Christy O’Sullivan. Frank Harrington from Glann, Kilkelly, whose team of workers were closely associated with the venture, was also in attendance at the official ceremonies.
Archaeologists who excavated a number of sites in advance of the scheme were also present, including Richard Gillespie from Castlebar. The compere for the official ceremony in Charlestown was Mr Joe Beirne.
Mayo County Council Chairman, Cllr Seamus Weir, presided at the presentation of framed pictures to Fred Barry and also to Evelyn Healy. A number of other presentations were made by the SIAC Wills group at the reception in Charlestown.
The Community Complex was beautifully transformed for the occasion by Eileen Morrisroe and her dedicated team and the reception they hosted was top class and a credit to everyone associated with it.