Letter to the Editor: Unsightly Cavan Way tourist trail

Madam,

The Cavan Way scenic route runs from the village of Dowra to Blacklion. It also provides valuable access to the Cavan Burren Park and to the new Shannon Pot development Scheme. However, over the years, it has become less attractive to visitors and the part between the R200 and the metal bridge has become shabby and unsightly.

This section is being used as a dumping ground for obsolete farm machinery, rubbish and discarded plastic bags. The road surface is in need of upgrading and the overgrown trees and shrubs needs to be trimmed back. The dilapidated remains of the Castlebane bridge, which is adjacent to the Cavan Way, are an eyesore and a danger to persons travelling to the Cavan Burren Park and to the new Shannon Pot development.

The Castlebane Bridge, which one time crossed the river Shannon, urgently needs to be rebuilt. In its hey day it provided a valuable amenity for farmers to move their animals and machinery.

It also provided a useful shortcut to connect the R207 to the R200 - thus avoiding the need to go through the village of Dowra - particularly on mart days.

For some years West Cavan people have lobbied to have the bridge rebuilt, but politicians have been feeble and ineffective in that regard.

Now that the Shannon Pot development scheme is in progress and with €10M in its budget, it would be a good time to address the problems of the Castlebane Road and bridge.

The people of Dowra and West Cavan deserve this.

Tommy Forde, London