Workers are applying finishing touches to the Athlone to Mullingar Greenway before its official opening, expected to be early to mid September. The exact date of the official opening was not confirmed at the time of writing, but the images below — thanks to Noel Hogan — show that much of the route is surfaced.
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The new cycle way between Mullingar and Athlone. Super easy . Tarmac all the way! pic.twitter.com/dvO7GRLJdk
— Noel Hogan (@noelahogan) August 25, 2015
The 41km section of greenway starts in Garrycastle, an area in the east of Athlone, and goes along the disused Athlone to Mullingar railway alignment. Railway tracks have been kept in place alongside the walking and cycling path, although these will not be actively used. At Grange South, the southern edge of Mullingar, the route merges with the Royal Canal towpath greenway into town. It falls short of Athlone town centre, although Westmeath County Council area already planning an extension of around 3.5km from Garrycastle to Athlone Castle, including a new bridge across the River Shannon. (article continues below Tweet with image)
@cianginty taken yesterday btw. Here’s another where it enters an old tunnel near Mullingar. pic.twitter.com/aiwgGRJKs2
— Noel Hogan (@noelahogan) August 25, 2015
Others images of the route can be viewed here and here.
The route is one of three core parts of the planned 276km Dublin to Galway Greenway, which makes up the Irish section of the European EuroVelo 2 route.
Between Mullingar and Dublin Docklands the route will use banks of the Royal Canal for about 91km — currently different sections of this stretch are passable to different degrees, all 91km is planned to be upgraded and have surfaced path. While, on the western side of the country, the route between Athlone and Galway is expected to use private lands, which has resulted in objections and lackluster local political support.
I took a trip along the Royal Canal from Newcomen Bridge Nth Strand just to see how far I could go , this was over a month ago. I got as far as Castleknock on the part that is in good condition and was great.
Then from there on from Castleknock as far as Coolmine road was very rough. It got very narrow and lumpy with Gravel and Roots of Trees and tall grass. The Trail was only about over a foot wide with a drop of 10 metre down to the Canal on the right and you had to stop to let Pedestrians by. It would be a lot worse if raining. I just went off up Coolmine Road after that and got lost in Housing Estates and gradually found myself out by Castleknock College then through Phoenix Park. You need good wide Tyres for the Coolmine section Pity , it will be great when the greenway is finished I will look forward to it.
The only decent route west at the moment is Along Congyham Road then The Lower Road/ Strawberry Beds, then Celbridge Road Lucan ,then turn up at the Spa Hotel and at the Roundabout head out the Galway Road to Maynooth ,Kilcock , etc , Dodging the Motorway M 4 all the time.
What about the Grand Canal Greenway from 3rd. to 12th. lock which brings you to near Lucan? Its very good, apart from the kissing gates.
Agree John.The same here. From Castleknock to Coolmine the path was good. Then up as as far as Clonsilla the pathway was terrible. Going from proper path to constant gravel/ tree root paths. It was very dangerous also being so close to the Canal from a height.
Should have been a railway line. Imagine single track for parts of the line from Galway to Dublin. No wonder people drive everywhere rail links are rubbish in ireland
What’s the surface like to the Hill of Down from Mullingar? is it suitable for a road bike?
The surface on this new greenway looks The Job
……great news! …..just home from a scoot along EuroVelo 6 between France and Budapest…….more Green ways the better.
Mullingar to the Hill of Down is paved in some shape or form all the way. Just follow the Royal Canal sign posts for the correct side. Hill of Down to Maynooth, is tough going though.
Michael, this is a disused railway line. The track between Galway and Dublin will not be affected; this track is between Athlone and Mullingar
Athlone has a great future! recent history gave it unrivalled connections to almost all parts of Ireland but why oh why have they not included the railway line to mullingar? True it needs substantial relaying of track renewal of signalling and probably a lot of work on civils but it could as has been stated represent a double track route all the way to Dublin,however the mind set that has allowed much of Ireland’s enviable railway network to fall into disuse and worse will need a jolt in order to reclaim its Infrastructure the horrendous costs of replacing it by motorways and keeping them maintained is self evidently eternally beyond the countries long term resources! The cycle way plus the Railway is the way forward.