Greenway linking Ballina and Dromineer in Tipperary have hit a roadblock

Ambitious plans for a greenway linking Ballina and Dromineer in Tipperary have hit a roadblock, with a council official confirming the project is stalled for now. The main obstacle is on the Ballina side of the planned route, where connecting the greenway would require taking out people's front lawns, driveways and farmyards.

For years, the prospect of a scenic greenway following the River Shannon between Ballina and Dromineer has captured local imagination.

The envisioned 24-kilometre walkway was intended to be a haven for walkers and cyclists, drawing visitors to both towns and opening up nearby attractions. At the March Tipperary County Council meeting, Fine Gael councillor Phyll Bugler pressed for an update.

"Is there any update on the greenway for Ballina?” Cllr Bugler asked.

"Is the project still going ahead?” she questioned.

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A council roads official said they looked at several possible routes for the walkway, but none would work. Cllr Bugler was told that, based on the management report, the project probably will not move forward as things stand.

"There doesn’t appear to be a solution. We don’t have a consultant working on it; it’s going to sit there while we focus on six other greenways," the roads representative said.

Cllr Bugler asked the council to find a way to make the project happen, saying it would really help her area. Since the new bridge in Ballina was built, many more people are cycling, and being able to walk between the two bridges would be great for the town's tourism. She asked if even some parts of the project could be done.

"Even if people could cycle it with electric bikes, people could even get up a little bit of the slope, or if we even went parallel to the old Lough Derg walkway. I know it’s a big ask, but it would be a different kind of greenway,” Cllr Bugler said.

The roads engineer replied that the biggest problem is on the Ballina side of the planned route, and they have not found a way to fix it.

"The challenge is at the Ballina side, I can’t see how you can connect a greenway to it without taking out people’s front lawns and driveways and farmyards,” he said.