Boyne Greenway

Last updated

Boyne Greenway
Length2 km (1.2 mi)
Location County Meath, Ireland
Trailheads Pass, County Meath, opposite entrance Battle of the Boyne visitor centre
UseCycling and walking
SeasonAny
Surface Plastic replica wood

The Boyne Greenway [1] or Boyneside Trail [2] is a greenway, cycle track and walkway along the Oldbridge section of the Boyne Navigation in Ireland. It runs from Pass, County Meath to opposite the entrance to the 'Battle of the Boyne' Visitor Centre.

A seven kilometre continuation of the route, from Ship Street in Drogheda to Mornington, County Meath, along the Boyne Estuary was proposed in the early 21st century. [3] In December 2020, further information was sought on the proposal. [4] The plan was rejected in September 2023, due to the potential impact on Special Areas of Conservation the route would run near. [5] Concerns about the project had been raised by BirdWatch Ireland, who feared the impact that a greenway would have on migrating birds in the Boyne Estuary SPA. [6]

A 26.5 kilometre extension towards Navan was also proposed. In February 2021, Meath County Council launched a public consultation on the potential route. [7] The extension is proposed to run from Andy Brennan Park in Navan to the gates of the Oldbridge Estate. [8] In December 2023, a public consultation was launched on the emerging preferred route. The delay between the first consultation and the publishing of the preferred route was attributed to changes in the approval process for greenways in Ireland, and a need to carry out a flood modelling exercise. [9]

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Drogheda is an industrial and port town in County Louth on the east coast of Ireland, 42 km (26 mi) north of Dublin city centre. It is located on the Dublin–Belfast corridor on the east coast of Ireland, mostly in County Louth but with the south fringes of the town in County Meath, 40 km (25 mi) north of Dublin city centre. Drogheda had a population of 44,135 inhabitants in 2022, making it the eleventh largest settlement by population in all of Ireland, and the largest town in the Republic of Ireland by both population and area. It is the last bridging point on the River Boyne before it enters the Irish Sea. The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Newgrange is located 8 km (5.0 mi) west of the town.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Navan railway station</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oldbridge</span> Townland near Drogheda in County Meath, Ireland

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wilkinstown</span> Village in County Meath, Ireland

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References

  1. "Boyne Greenway". Walking with David. Archived from the original on 28 December 2014. Retrieved 27 December 2014.
  2. "Boyne Trail". irishgreenway.com. IrishGreenways.com. Archived from the original on 28 December 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  3. Spearman, Andy. "Council applies for permission for Mornington to Drogheda greenway". Drogheda Life.
  4. Murphy, Hubert. "More information sought on Boyne Greenway plan". Drogheda Independent. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  5. Comyn, Alison (7 September 2023). "Boyne Greenway plan linking Drogheda and Mornington is rejected". Drogheda Independent. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  6. McCabe, Donard (17 September 2023). "BirdWatch Ireland welcomes An Bord Pleanála decision to refuse Boyne Greenway planning". Dundalk Democrat. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  7. Doyle, Simon. "Meath CoCo launch public consultation on Boyne Greenway extension". LMFM. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  8. Moynihan, Ed (26 February 2021). "The Boyne Greenway Non-Statutory Public Consultation is now Open". Navan Cycling Initiative.
  9. Ginty, Cian (13 December 2023). "Boyne Greenway consultation welcomed after two-and-a-half-year delay -". IrishCycle.com. Retrieved 11 January 2024.