Boyne Valley Camino gets €52k boost for signage
€145k for Rathmullan Road to Boyne Greenway footpath
There is good news on two fronts for walkers of all levels in Drogheda this morning with the announcement that €145,000 is to be spent on a footpath alongside the Rathmullan Road down to the Greenway and a further €51,750 on permanent signage along Drogheda’s 25km Boyne Valley Camino.
The funding for both schemes comes from the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS). The section of the Rathmullan Road is used by residents of the Rathmullan side of Drogheda to access the boardwalk but, because it is narrow and very winding it is very dangerous for pedestrians.
The development of the Boyne Valley Camino reached another important milestone today with the announcement by the Department of Rural and Community Development of funding to the tune of €51,750 for permanent signage along Drogheda’s 25km Boyne Valley Camino.
Boyne Valley Walking approached Louth County Council at the end of 2019 seeking support in developing the Boyne Valley Camino further. The Council very kindly came on board to make the ORIS submission, with the support of Coillte and other stakeholders locally.
The funding application is for some upgrade work to a section of the trail in Townley Hall and permanent signage along the route, a trailhead board and enhanced map development.
Áine Walsh of the Boyne Valley Walking group said that having a distance walk, permanently way marked in the area has been their dream since they started devising the Boyne Valley Camino.
She said ‘we are all Camino walkers and know how pleasant it is to just get up and walk. Following clear signs and enjoying the scenery along the route, rather than having to constantly refer to maps and potentially going astray. Having standardised signage every couple of hundred yards will make the route much more enjoyable for walkers.
Áine told Drogheda Life that currently there are no distance way-marked trails between the Dublin Mountains and the Cooley Mountains. “Having one in the historic town of Drogheda and Boyne Valley will be a great asset for locals and tourists alike” she said.
Since the launch of the Boyne Valley Camino in June 2019 many walking groups, families, charities, transition year students, friends and sporting organisations have walked the Camino, often led by Dusty Flanagan, Terry Collins, Pat Coffey, Caoimhe Mulroy, David and Áine from Boyne Valley Walking.
The 25km Boyne Valley Camino is a looped walk, starting in West St Drogheda, walking along the north bank of the Boyne to Townley Hall, through the woods, along country roads and lanes to Mellifont Abbey, then on through the beautiful village of Tullyallen, back down Belnumber Woods in Townley Hall, across the Obelisk, past Oldbridge and along the canal and ramparts of the Boyne back to Drogheda.
Áine said that Boyne Valley Walking are very grateful for support for the Boyne Valley Camino from the local communities, the local authorities, Coillte, the OPW and local representatives who supported the ORIS submission such as Fergus O’Dowd, Ged Nash and Imelda Munster.
“We look forward to bringing this project to fruition in collaboration with Louth County Council and Coillte in the not too distant future.
Local Fine Gael TD, Fergus O’Dowd, welcomed today’s news for the Camino and also that €145k has also been approved for the long awaited footpath from the Rathmullan Road to the Boyne Greenway.
“The funding for the vital Rathmullen-Boyne Greenway Path will see the construction of a new segregated footpath with associated lighting linking the Rathmullan Road to the wonderful Boyne Greenway.
“Minister Heather Humphreys confirmed the good news to me this morning which will see safer access for residents to the Boyne Greenway.
“The Rathmullan Road (area) has seen very significant population growth and development over recent years but there has been no safe access linking residents and walkers to the Boyne Greenway.
“I’m happy to have been in a position to support both of these vital projects directly to the Minister and I’m delighted for Dusty, Terry, Pat, Caoimhe and Aine and all of the organisers involved in the Camino.
“This funding will be a great benefit to the local area and will encourage many more people to get active.”
