Controversial Mayo greenway may re-route politics along west coast

It’s a hot topic that will still be around in June

by Caoimhín Rowland

A greenway from Belclare to Murrisk is swiftly becoming one of the hot topics in local politics ahead of the elections in June. Battle lines have been drawn as controversially as planned routes purportedly through people’s lands.

Currently in the Westport ward there are four seats up for grabs and it’s split down the middle between councillors in support for and against the proposed greenway route.

Predictably, it’s the two elected representatives who topped the polls, Fine Gael’s Peter Flynn and the Independent councillor Christy Hyland, who are more in support of the active travel path, and the two most under pressure, Brendan Mulroy (FF) and Johnny O'Malley (Ind.), have railed against the TII’s decision to plan a greenway from the Quay in Westport to the foot of Croagh Patrick.

The planned section caused uproar at a community consultation meeting last month and was hijacked by prominent campaigner and leader of the Rural Ireland Organisation, Gerry Loftus.

His group shriek at any plans by authorities to implement safe, off-road tracks that come near people’s land.

Irish people hold their rights to private property dearly and any inkling of compulsory purchase orders and ‘carving up’ of people’s land is met with an unmistakable uproar.

Loftus will not be running in Westport as Castlebar will be his domain.

But much like the afforestation controversy in Craggagh, Balla, he is keen on keeping those issues in his wheelhouse much like the successful doctor campaign in Lahardane was.

The political intricacies will be fascinating to view how it works out, particularly as Mulroy and O'Malley are in the anti-greenway camp.

O’Malley came close to being pipped by Chris Maxwell in the last election - less than a hundred votes separated the two - and with Maxwell running in June under an Independent banner after failing to usurp Mulroy in Fianna Fáil, it’s wide open and all to play for on the west coast of County Mayo.

The looming spectre of a Ring defection remains for the Covies and with no heir apparent emerging from the local contenders there may be a few headaches in store for voters who may look across Clew Bay toward Belmullet and see a minister in their barony with some jealousy.

Michael Ring will have little consequence on June’s ballot unless he decides to take a last gasp case for a spot in Brussels - the bookies would give you long odds.

Keira Keogh adds another point of intrigue. Coming from a well-known business family in the town, she has the support of the aforementioned Deputy Ring and has been campaigning diligently thus far.

She enlisted the support of MEP Maria Walsh for her hustings recently and calls her a close personal friend.

Keogh may well cause further anxieties for greenway split incumbents. Voter dissatisfaction is as rife in Westport as it is elsewhere in the county but the realities at play are much different to the rest of Mayo.

Newcomers in Westport include Aontú, riding high after referendum success. Their man in Westport is retired engineer John Loftus who took aim with the government for allowing “the health of Clew Bay, housing and crime get progressively worse.”

The Greens also look to field a Louisburgh man in the ward, Peter Nolan, who is an organic farmer and is predictably keen on greenway infrastructure.

The route from Louisburgh to Roonagh is his mission if elected.

But before a poster has been erected, this once welcomed news of a local greenway now spells a lot more controversy for politicians than before.

Westport is viewed as our golden child, infrastructure projects that couldn’t be conceived elsewhere are made a reality there.

Tourism is a sector close to their hearts and they do a fine job at it, but increasing business rates are giving rise to heartache and realities of cafés, shops and pubs shuttering.

Compounded by a cost of living crisis and a lack of hotel space, an opportunity for a right-wing candidate from the Irish Freedom party is possible.

Former general election candidate and current secretary of said party, Daithi O’Fallamhain, is yet to declare his intentions.

He prefers the big ticket items he once told me, parish pump would not be his style he says.

But, in Westport, like all of Ireland, the cost of losing hotel beds is beginning to be laid bare.

Whether or not that will be to the benefit of challengers we have to wait and see.