Group claim funding for west Mayo greenway shows route is 'considered undeliverable'

A COMMUNITY group opposed to the preferred route option of the controversial Belclare to Murrisk Greenway believe that funding of €100,000 allocated to it shows there is uncertainty over its feasibility.

Earlier this month, Mayo County Council received over €10 million for Active Travel and Greenway projects with the proposed extension of the greenway from Belclare to Murrisk receiving €100,000.

Mayo County Council officials told Monday's monthly meeting of the Westport/Belmullet Municipal District that the funding allocation is for the design of the final route option which is expected to be revealed later in the year.

However, a group opposed to the route option which will bring the greenway off road from Aughavale Cemetery to Murrisk believe that it shows that the current route option is considered undeliverable by officials in Dublin.

“While significant funding has been announced for walking, cycling, and greenways across Mayo, the Belclare-Murrisk link - the first section of purpose-built recreational infrastructure connecting Westport to Louisburgh - receives just €100,000. Dublin is signalling caution because Mayo County Council’s preferred off-road route is high-risk, widely contested, and considered undeliverable,” the Belclare to Murrisk committee said in a statement to The Mayo News.

Mayo County Council received over €7 million in funding for greenway projects as part of the latest allocation from the Department of Transport. The Blacksod Greenway Loop received the most funding of the Mayo projects with €1.9 million allocated which includes the construction of phase one from Binghamstown to Cross and phase two from Doohoma Head to St Pius X Church in Doohoma.

The upgrade of part of the Great Western Greenway from Newport to Derrada which is part of the current realignment works of that part of the N59 received €1.4 million.

“This is a substantial investment in absolute terms. However, central government funding prioritises projects that are clearly deliverable, legally secure, and publicly supported. Projects like Belclare-Murrisk face caution due to previous delays, mismanagement, and opposition, which have created uncertainty over their feasibility,” the committee added.

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The allocation of €100,000 was described as a 'reality check' by the committee who claimed that the project is 'effectively on pause' and called for this route to be abandoned.

“The council’s preferred route - a new off-road path cutting through farms, gardens, forests, and wetlands - requires extensive compulsory purchase orders. It is opposed by residents and carries high legal, environmental, and social risk.

“This route is not wanted locally. Nor does it appear viable to the central government, as reflected in the minimal allocation,” the statement continued.

The committee said that a recent statement by An Taoiseach Micheál Martin regarding the CPO of land for greenways showed that the best option to continue the greenway to Louisburgh is to develop it along the R335 Louisburgh road.

“Recent statements from the Taoiseach emphasising that greenway specifications must be eased underline the absurdity of rigid standards blocking progress. Transport Infrastructure Ireland guidelines already allow relaxations or departures from standard where site, environmental, or economic constraints justify them. On all counts is the Council’s preferred route eligible for a deviation, and relaxation has been recommended from the highest office.

“Yet Mayo County Council continues to insist that deviation is impossible, creating unnecessary risk and delaying progress. Dublin’s cautious funding approach reflects that risk assessment: money will flow only if a clear, deliverable, and publicly acceptable plan emerges.

“Until Mayo County Council abandons the off-road route and commits to the deliverable plan, the Westport-Louisburgh community will continue to be short-changed - not by Dublin, but by decisions made much closer to home.”