April Edition 2019
River Walk
River Walk
It could be fantastic to open up a riverside path between St Martha's Bridge and Old Kilcarn Bridge.
We caught sight of a proposal from Jenny McHugh for a footpath with play equipment running alongside the river and the IDA land. We took to the air with Drone Services Ireland to get a better look at the 1km stretch between St Martha's Bridge and Kilcarn Bridge.
We caught sight of a proposal from Jenny McHugh for a footpath with play equipment running alongside the river and the IDA land. We took to the air with Drone Services Ireland to get a better look at the 1km stretch between St Martha's Bridge and Kilcarn Bridge.
In line with our Political Statement we publish this article because it has merit in enhancing Our Community.
Building on Success
Building on Success
The Ramparts Canal & Boyne riverside walk is a beautiful and a very successful feature for Navan. It has a few historic points of interest along it's route and there's plenty of wildlife, flora and fauna to observe throughout the different seasons.
The Ramparts Canal & Boyne riverside walk is a beautiful and a very successful feature for Navan. It has a few historic points of interest along it's route and there's plenty of wildlife, flora and fauna to observe throughout the different seasons.
Many go out of their way to regularly walk the Ramparts towpath but since it's a linear route you always have to double back on yourself.
Many go out of their way to regularly walk the Ramparts towpath but since it's a linear route you always have to double back on yourself.
Ramparts path runs from Navan to Broadboyne Bridge and potentially as far as Slane.
No Facilities
No Facilities
There are no toilets, cafes, picnic benches and there is only one other exit point on the Boyne Road for the 9km route between the Ramparts car park and Broadboyne Bridge. This makes it a quite impractical for those with young families, those with disabilities and the elderly to see much more than a small section.
There are no toilets, cafes, picnic benches and there is only one other exit point on the Boyne Road for the 9km route between the Ramparts car park and Broadboyne Bridge. This makes it a quite impractical for those with young families, those with disabilities and the elderly to see much more than a small section.
Local Potential
Local Potential
It appears to be an achievable proposal to have a riverside path here in Navan South. Running between St Martha's Bridge and Old Kilcarn Bridge a route positioned above the floodplain could follow the river passing through open and wooded areas.
It appears to be an achievable proposal to have a riverside path here in Navan South. Running between St Martha's Bridge and Old Kilcarn Bridge a route positioned above the floodplain could follow the river passing through open and wooded areas.
What we particularly like about the 1km proposal is that it could easily connect with longer looped walking paths through the IDA, along Metges Road or the Dublin road.
What we particularly like about the 1km proposal is that it could easily connect with longer looped walking paths through the IDA, along Metges Road or the Dublin road.
If it was suitable for bicycles then it could connect with our existing cycle paths.
If it was suitable for bicycles then it could connect with our existing cycle paths.
The nearby Old Bridge Inn, Ardboyne Hotel and the Johnstown Shopping Centre who could gain customers by providing the refreshments and toilets.
The nearby Old Bridge Inn, Ardboyne Hotel and the Johnstown Shopping Centre who could gain customers by providing the refreshments and toilets.
Yellow river path could link to provide more walking paths.
An attractive selling point.
An attractive selling point.
This is the ignored natural feature of Navan along its entire southern approach road. Unless you travel by bus you're unlikely to even notice the river is there.
This is the ignored natural feature of Navan along its entire southern approach road. Unless you travel by bus you're unlikely to even notice the river is there.
A riverside area would benefit staff working at the IDA with somewhere pleasant to visit lunchtime and walks or lunch. It would also be a tourist attraction close to the numerous local Hotel and B&B's along the Dublin Road.
A riverside area would benefit staff working at the IDA with somewhere pleasant to visit lunchtime and walks or lunch. It would also be a tourist attraction close to the numerous local Hotel and B&B's along the Dublin Road.
Education.
Education.
A nature walk could attract students from the 3 nearby schools of Ard Na Ri and St. Stephens National School and Colaiste Na Mi Secondary School which are all within walking distance.
A nature walk could attract students from the 3 nearby schools of Ard Na Ri and St. Stephens National School and Colaiste Na Mi Secondary School which are all within walking distance.
Security & Maintenance
Security & Maintenance
Concerns of antisocial evening and night time activities could be reduced with a gated entry and the IDA land fenced off. Without evening lighting the path would be in near total darkness anyway.
Concerns of antisocial evening and night time activities could be reduced with a gated entry and the IDA land fenced off. Without evening lighting the path would be in near total darkness anyway.
If robust playground equipment, similar to those at Balrath Woods, is introduced and limited to very few items then there's very little damage to be done.
If robust playground equipment, similar to those at Balrath Woods, is introduced and limited to very few items then there's very little damage to be done.
We have no picnic areas in the nearby area and perhaps a project for a local Men's Shed Group?
With fairly basic requirements, and even without playground equipment, a simple path would be popular with local walkers and useful for the fishing club.
With fairly basic requirements, and even without playground equipment, a simple path would be popular with local walkers and useful for the fishing club.
Thanks to the efforts of volunteers, the river fishing club and the canal angling club the Ramparts path is well maintained. It is also a designated area of Conservation but we're unsure if this extends to the South Navan stretch. There are signs locally for the river fishing club but no obvious signs indicating private property or land ownership.
Thanks to the efforts of volunteers, the river fishing club and the canal angling club the Ramparts path is well maintained. It is also a designated area of Conservation but we're unsure if this extends to the South Navan stretch. There are signs locally for the river fishing club but no obvious signs indicating private property or land ownership.
Does this sound like a great idea and a positive attraction for South Navan?
Does this sound like a great idea and a positive attraction for South Navan?
Path Extension
Path Extension
Extending towards Navan alongside Athlumney Abbey and Athlumney Castle it could connect to the Ramparts Walk.
Extending towards Navan alongside Athlumney Abbey and Athlumney Castle it could connect to the Ramparts Walk.
Perhaps under certain high water conditions a river taxi or canoe type activity might be a new business opportunity. Thinking much further ahead how about coffee shops, cafes together with picnic areas along a boardwalk?
Perhaps under certain high water conditions a river taxi or canoe type activity might be a new business opportunity. Thinking much further ahead how about coffee shops, cafes together with picnic areas along a boardwalk?
Extension South
Extension South
This is a little unknown at this stage in the research but we know that Boyne Hill House Estate already has their own private garden with a riverside path. Could we connect up to this on the west bank?
This is a little unknown at this stage in the research but we know that Boyne Hill House Estate already has their own private garden with a riverside path. Could we connect up to this on the west bank?
Contact Information
Contact Information
In line with our Political Statement we publish this article because it has merit in enhancing Our Community and here we acknowledge the source of the story.
Special thanks to Drone Services Ireland.
Special thanks to Drone Services Ireland.
Related Past Articles
Related Past Articles
Navan Coarse Angling Club is a suitable for all age groups and can be found at the Ramparts canal.
Continuing our series on Family Friendly Free venues this one comes highly recommended.
April 2019 Articles
April 2019 Articles
If you recommend an event coming up we'll help promote it to others and our aim is not just to read about things but for you to go, participate and enjoy them!
If you recommend an event coming up we'll help promote it to others and our aim is not just to read about things but for you to go, participate and enjoy them!
