No decision yet on contentious Mayo greenway

A final route has still not been selected for the controversial greenway between Belclare and Murrisk in West Mayo, a meeting of Westport-Belmullet Municipal District was told last week.

The head of the district Seamus Ó Mongáin told councilors that he was hopeful a decision would be made in the fourth quarter of this year. He was responding to a query from Westport-based Fianna Fáil councillor Brendan Mulroy who had sought an update on the project, which was the subject of much debate last year after it was revealed that Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) may compulsorily acquire properties for the greenway. 

Challenged by Cllr Mulroy on the latest deadline, given that promises had been made that the route would be finalised in early 2025, Mr Ó Mongáin simply said: “It’s not finalised yet."

A clearly unhappy Cllr Mulroy replied: “Is this for real? You keep saying it’s a process but at the end of this process is human beings. It is absolutely ridiculous for you to come in here and tell us month after month they are not putting the route on the table. You are using all the correct terminology here and saying a person has a choice (in relation to compulsory purchase orders) but that is like saying to someone, you can walk to Dublin if you don’t want a lift but I am going to pick you up on the road anyway. TII have let every person in the Murrisk/Belclare area down here. They have left the public and everyone hanging.”