Additional €3.9 Million Allocated Towards Completion Of The Barrow Blueway Route

Monday, 13 May 2024 10:26

By Hannah Kelly

The Barrow Blueway which will run from Lowtown, through the towns of Rathangan, Monasterevin, Vicarstown to Athy

An additonal €3.9 million has been allocated towards the completion of the Barrow Blueway Route from Lowtown to Athy.

The Barrow Blueway which will run from Lowtown, through the towns of Rathangan, Monasterevin, Vicarstown to Athy.

This new funding will allow for multiple works to be done.

Road crossing works, construction of a pedestrian bridge at Rathangan, installation of canoe and kayak septs at various locations along the route.

It will also fund trail furniture including picnic benches, bicycle shelters, and water filling stations along with installation of gateway features at Athy, Monasterevin and Lowtown.

€9 million was invested in this project by the Government and Waterways Ireland, and is part of the Our Rural Future plan.

Multiple Kildare TD's and Senators have welcomed the announcement.

Kildare South Fine Gael TD and Minister Martin Heydon has welcomed the announcement, saying, 'The Barrow Blueway has the potential to open up the south Kildare and north Laois area as a tourist destination, with the increased footfall from tourism a providing a great boost to the local economy'.

Kildare Senator Fiona O'Loughlin has said 'A fully finished and maintained Blueway will open up so much of the area to new markets and opportunities. People may use it for recreation, sport, cycling, walking, jogging and so on'.

Senator Mark Wall has also expressed his welcoming of the funding, saying, 'The last piece of the jigsaw for Barrow Blueway. Great news today as funding of €3.9 million has been announced to complete the final piece. What a great amenity for us all'.