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Irish Independent

Frustration in Galway as opening of Renmore Barracks walkway remains unclear

It has been about three years since Galway City Council started working to open a permeability route to the railway line path from Liam Mellows GAA Club, which would provide a 2.5km vehicle free walkway and cycleway from Eyre Square to Renmore and Ballyloughanne. The path strays onto lands belonging to Dún Uí Mhaelíosa (Renmore Barracks), which led to the Defence Forces closing the pathway over safety grounds, preventing unauthorised access to military property. The walkway in concern is about 150m in length and is situated outside the security walls of the Barracks. Before its closure, this roadway has been used by the public for generations without any restriction. Positive discussions have been going on between Galway City Council, who owns a section of land between Liam Mellow GAA and Renmore Barracks, and representatives from the Renmore Barracks. However, last summer Renmore Barracks informed Galway City Council they objected to this proposal and would not allow the permeability route to proceed. The Army Barracks have also erected a permanent fence around GCC land and gate blocking entry to GCC. So another year has passed, and Fine Gael Councillor for Galway City East Shane Forde explained to the Irish Independent the community's patience is running short. 'I want Fine Gale leader and Minister For Defence Simon Harris to intervene directly to resolve the impasse. The issue locally is affecting hundreds of kids playing sport every day and the community of Galway City East,' he said. Cllr Forde argued the Army Barrack's safety should not be an issue as there is currently a public Pitch N Putt located at the end of the roadway which the barracks allow access to. 'The Pitch N Putt course is open and if national security was the greatest [issue], how come there's no issue with people using the golf course? It's absolute madness. 'We should 100pc address the Army's safety concerns but also highlight the fact that it is an absolute nonsense to say that it's a national security issue but every day 200 or 300 people are playing Pitch N Putt down the golf course every day of the week.' Cllr Forde claimed that talks have fallen again lately after a possible solution, which included the building of a bridge over the railway line, has been rumoured would cost about €1million. 'There was proposals that the defence Forces were looking at to put a bridge over the railway line and then pedestrians would use that bridge over the railway line and onto the Renmore Road. That's what the Defence Forces were looking to see would it be possible. 'But what I've been informed of the past couple of days is that there's talk that that could come to the region of €1 million. That's €1 million of taxpayers money. When we could have this issue resolved [easily]. So now the two parties are back to the drawing board, as Cllr Forde said the initial solution would be 'the fairest proposal to everyone'. He explained: 'They had no issue with [reopening the pathway] until a year ago. 'The reality is, all they have to do is go back to the original proposal where the council will erect the safety fencing, the council will put up the gates, the council will pay for the CCTV, and the barracks will have security that they need. 'If national security is of importance as what the army lead it to believe, why is it that that everyday hundreds of people can use the pitch and putt course at the back of the barracks and the only access way in is through the back of the barracks, on the the same walkway that their closed. 'We've missed a whole summer while this issue was dragging on and we can't get into agreement on it.'