The Boyne Valley Camino 25km looped walk, which has drawn thousands of visitors to the Boyne Valley area since its inauguration four years ago, took another great step forward at the weekend with the completion of a project to install signage along the route to mark the way for walkers.
Bright and early on Saturday morning, the Boyne Valley Walking team celebrated the completion of the Boyne Valley Camino signage project with a breakfast in The Marcy Hotel in West Street, attended by over 70 friends and supporters before setting off to walk the Boyne Valley Camino.
The signage project is the final stage of the Boyne Valley Camino project. The 25km looped walk created by Boyne Valley Walking now boasts 71 way markers, made up of three trailheads, five wall plaques leading out of town, National Roads Authority (NRA) grade bollards along roads, Coillte grade wooden posts in Townley Hall and five locally made limestone benches dotted around the route. The markers for the Camino have a distinctive yellow scallop shell and arrow on a blue background.
Mayor Michelle Hall congratulated Dusty, Pat, Terry, Áine, Caoimhe and David on having the idea to create this long distance, way marked trail in the Drogheda area, and bringing it to fruition. She highlighted not only the health and wellness benefits of walking, but also the economic boost this brings to the area. Shops, cafés, accommodation, bars and restaurants can capitalize on this attraction for locals and tourists alike.
Dusty Flanagan reminded attendees that the Boyne Valley Walking group started in 2011 as a follow on from Fergal Quinn’s “Local Heroes” programme through to today’s Camino project.
Dusty outlined how they plotted the Boyne Valley Camino route, had it officially signed off by the Camino Society of Ireland, secured funding for the signage project, a website and other promotional materials and successfully delivered it with the help of many stakeholders and supporters. He was joined at the launch by some of the most recent Celtic Camino recipients.
The Celtic Camino is 25km on the Boyne Valley Camino and 75km from La Coruna to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. Boyne Valley Walking have made links with the Economic and Tourism Development officials in La Coruna who are very keen to pursue the promotion of the Celtic Camino in Spain and Ireland.
Áine Walsh finished off with the long list of heartfelt Thank You’s to all the stakeholders, many of whom were in attendance. Starting with Barry Eaton, formerly of Louth County Council and Tidy Towns Drogheda, then Oliver Winters of Louth County Council. Representatives of Coillte, Love Drogheda, Canon Sweeny of St Peter’s, the OPW team at Mellifont, Oldbridge and Brú na Bóinne, Coca-Cola, The Marcy, ProHealth, The Morning Star and Clarke’s Bar from the business community were also acknowledged for their support over the years.
Áine had special thanks to the suppliers and contractors on the project, Once Upon Design for graphics, Eddie Phelan for engineering, IPL Group for bollards and signage, Bam Media for website, Brian Connolly / Bang Bang Visuals for photography and video and finally Damien King for signage installation.
The final “míle buíochas” went to all the supporters, local media, friends and family that helped along the way.
The group of walkers then headed out to enjoy a great day’s walking in the sunshine on the Boyne Valley Camino. For further information on the Camino, check out the new website:- www.boynevalleycamino.ie
