Gala lunch

Bord Gáis say thanks with gala lunch

LAST week Bord Gáis held a gala lunch in Westport, to mark the major milestones in the delivery of natural gas to towns in Mayo, and to extend its appreciation to all involved in the completion of the Mayo-Galway pipeline. The €200 million Mayo-Galway pipeline was completed on schedule in 2006 and the 149km pipeline extends from Cappagh South, Co Galway to Bellanaboy, Co Mayo. The project employed 500 during peak construction and resulted in the discovery of ten previously unknown archaeological sites along the route.
The Mayo-Galway pipeline feeds into Ireland’s 12,375km natural gas network. The Gaswest Project, a €40 million, three-year development project for the west of Ireland, will make natural gas available to seven towns in Mayo and four in Galway along the route of the pipeline.
The eleven new towns that will be connected under Phase one of the New Towns Analysis are Athenry, Craughwell, Headford and Tuam in Galway and Ballina, Ballyhaunis, Castlebar, Claremorris, Crossmolina, Knock and Westport in Mayo. Under Phase two, a further three towns will be connected: Ballinrobe in Mayo and Gort and Loughrea in Galway at a combined cost of €9.5m. The majority of towns are due for connection in 2008, with Ballyhaunis and Athenry expected to be completed in 2009. The programme to connect the Phase two towns is also expected to be completed in 2009.