Repairs to vandalised stretch still not completed four years on
By Andy Spearman
The Boyne Greenway, or the short section of it that is currently open, is a fantastic asset to the people of Drogheda. I just wish the two County Councils responsible for the project, Meath and Louth, would get on with completing it.
It is hugely popular with local people, including myself, for cycling out to Oldbridge for the exercise and to improve their fitness levesl of fitness and perhaps shed a pound or two. But is’s just too short to compete with other Greenways around the country in terms of attracting walking and cycling tourists.
To be fair, Louth County Council has done great work on the short stretch that is in their jurisdiction, the job they have carried out on restoring the ramparts, installing public lighting and, more recently, seating and signage, is laudable.
Meath County Council (MCC) has the bigger job to do and the Mornington to Drogheda stretch is currently going through the public consultation stage of the planning process and, with a positive outcome, hopefully work can start on that end of the project soon.
It has to be said though, that MCC are dragging their heels on the stretch of the walkway that was attacked by some low-life arsonist who destroyed a section of the walkway near the canal lock at Oldbridge, just before the Fleadh in Drogheda in August 2018
Meath County Council told Drogheda Life recently that following the incident, the Municipal District carried out temporary repairs, to a value of approximately €20,000.
“It is important to note that approximately half of these costs were covered by a Go-Fund Me campaign organised by the Boyneside Trail group” a spokesperson said. “The repairs carried out ensured that the walkway could be opened to the public again.”
That may be true but the temporary surface of the short stretch of footpath affected, 100 metres or so, is very rough which makes it uncomfortable for cyclists but almost impassable for people in wheelchairs many of whom had been enjoying their new found freedom on the greenway,
Meath County Council say they are “investigating alternative solutions to this temporary surface”, but add that no further funding has been secured to allow them to re-instate the Boardwalk to the pre-attack condition.
They don’t say how much it is going to cost to reinstate the pathway but one would have thought that in the greater scheme of things this would be small money.
I’ve been a big supporter of the greenway and of re-opening the Boyne navigation for over 40 years and I reckon that the public share my enthusiasm for these projects.
The public servants, local and central, are the only ones who can get this vital infrastructure over the line so perhaps it about time they shared the public enthusiasm and got on with the job.
Volunteers from the Inland Waterways Association have been working away valiantly for many years restoring and preserving the Boyne Navigation as best they can with limited resources and the fruits of their labours are there for us all to admire and a testament to their persistence.
But it’s painfully slow work without a greater buy-in from the local authorities.
In December 2021, Slane Councillor Wayne Harding said “The Boyne Greenway has the potential to be one of the major tourist attractions in the country.”
He’s right of course but, like all worthwhile things, it takes hard work and enthusiasm. Just wishing it to happen and lip-service is no good.
