Mayo councillor questions absence of updates on Westport to Murrisk Greenway

A WEST Mayo councillor has requested an update on the development of the controversial Murrisk Greenway after claiming the project seems to have 'disappeared off the edge of the earth'.

The Murrisk Greenway project is being developed by Mayo County Council in conjunction with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) but the emerging preferred route option has been met with objections by many landowners along the proposed route.

Members of the Westport/Belmullet Municipal District were informed in January that an update of the project should be available for the March meeting but no update was on the agenda at Monday's monthly meeting.

READ: Mayo councillors demand answers on old Westport school site

Westport-based councillor Brendan Mulroy questioned why there was no update available given they were led to believe there would be.

“The last presentation we had we were told we would be given a preferred route for the March meeting and it is now March. I am wondering where we are with regard to that. Is there a preferred route? I presumed it would be on the table today to be honest. The reports we were given was that the option would be picked for March and there is still no mention of it,” the Fianna Fáil councillor told the March month meeting.

When Cllr Mulroy was informed by Seamus Ó Mongáin, Head of the Municipal District that the National Road Design Office in Castlebar was dealing with it, he requested a further update from them.

“We were told that the preferred option would be put before us at the March meeting and it seems to have just disappeared off the edge of the earth.

“A lot of people have an interest in this and when elected members are told something I would appreciate some information. I know it is not your remit but you can't just say something will be on the table in March and it is not there in March and not even to acknowledge it is not there.

“I would like an update on that because it gets serious when there is no update. All the ducks are supposed to be put in a row at this stage,” he said.

Mr Ó Mongáin told Cllr Mulroy that he would request an update from the National Roads Design Office for an update for the next meeting.

The emerging preferred route option which was announced in February 2024 will see the Greenway go off road from Aughavale Cemetery via the townlands of Cloonagh, Kiladangan and Deerpark towards Murrisk and will cut through land at the foot of Croagh Patrick. The project is currently going through the design and evaluation stage and the final route is expected to come before the local councillors for approval later this year.

Last month, €200,000 was allocated by the Government for the development of the Clew Bay Greenway from Belclare to Murrisk.

Landowners and residents who are opposed to the emerging preferred route option say that this route will not benefit the community and they prefer that the Greenway is developed along the R335 road to Louisburgh.