Preasráiteas: Siúlbhealach ó Charraig Airt chun na nDúnaibh i nDún na nGall, ar fiú €500,000 é, oscailte go hoifigiúil ag an Aire Calleary
Media Release
Thursday, 24 September 2026
Minister Calleary officially opens €500,000 Carrigart to Downings Walkway in Co. Donegal
- Outdoor Recreation funding provided to develop a shared-use path designed for walkers, runners, families, and cyclists
Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD, today (Thursday, 24 September 2026) officially opened a 1.5km shared pedestrian and cycle path connecting Carrigart to Downings in County Donegal.
This new walkway received €500,000 in Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) funding and provides a safe, dedicated off-road link for locals and visitors alike commuting or recreating between the two North Donegal villages.
Located in the townland of Ballyohagan, the walkway runs along the R248 regional road between Carrigart and Downings. The works competed include integrated drainage improvements and safety fencing along the busy stretch of the R248.
Speaking at the opening in Carrigart, Minister Calleary said:
“I am delighted to be here today to acknowledge and celebrate the completion of the first phase of the Carrigart to Downings Walkway. This transformative project represents exactly the type of investment that ORIS was designed to support – creating safe, accessible and sustainable opportunities for people to enjoy the outdoors, while strengthening rural communities and enhancing the places where people live, work and visit.
“Projects such as this deliver benefits that extend far beyond the physical infrastructure itself. They improve road safety and encourage active travel and make it easier for people of all ages and abilities to enjoy the outdoors.
“I would therefore like to acknowledge the dedication and commitment of Donegal County Council, the project team, local elected representatives, community groups including Moving Mevagh Forward, Carrigart and Downings Tidy Towns, local businesses, landowners, contractors and all those who contributed to bringing this important project from concept to completion.”
Preasráiteas
Déardaoin, 24 Meán Fómhair 2026
Siúlbhealach ó Charraig Airt chun na nDúnaibh i nDún na nGall, ar fiú €500,000 é, oscailte go hoifigiúil ag an Aire Calleary
- Maoiniú Áineasa Lasmuigh curtha ar fáil chun siúlbhealach úsáide comhroinnte a fhorbairt, a dearadh do shiúlóirí, reathaithe, teaghlaigh agus rothaithe
Inniu (Déardaoin, 24 Meán Fómhair 2026) d’oscail an tAire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta, Dara Calleary TD, conair chomhroinnte siúil agus rothaíochta 1.5km, lena gceanglaítear Carraig Airt agus na Dúnaibh i nDún na nGall, go hoifigiúil.
Bronnadh maoiniú €500,000 ón Scéim Bonneagair Áineasa Lasmuigh (SBÁL) ar an tsiúlbhealach nua seo, lena gcuirtear nasc sábháilte tiomanta easbhóthair ar fáil do mhuintir na háite agus do chuairteoirí araon, atá ag comaitéireacht nó i mbun áineasa idir an dá shráidbhaile i dTuaisceart Dhún na nGall.
Suite i mbaile fearainn Bhaile Uí Eochagáin, téann an siúlbhealach feadh an bhóthair réigiúnaigh R248 idir Charraig Airt agus na Dúnaibh. I measc na n-oibreacha a tugadh i gcrích, tá feabhsúcháin draenála comhtháite agus fál sábháilteachta feadh an stráice ghnóthaigh den R248.
Agus é ag labhairt ag an oscailt i gCarraig Airt, dúirt an tAire Calleary:
“Is cúis áthais dom a bheith anseo inniu chun críochnú na chéad céime den Siúlbhealach idir Charraig Airt agus na Dúnaibh a aithint agus a cheiliúradh. Eiseamláir é an tionscadal réabhlóideach seo den chineál infheistíochta ar dearadh SBÁL chun tacú léi – deiseanna sábháilte inrochtana inmharthana a chruthú chun gur féidir le daoine sult a bhaint as a bheith amuigh faoin aer, agus pobail tuaithe á neartú agus áiteanna cónaithe, oibre agus turasóireachta á bhfeabhsú ag an am céanna.
“Bíonn buntáistí i gceist le tionscadail dá leithéid seo, ar mó ar fad iad ná an bonneagar fisiciúil féin. Cuireann siad le sábháilteacht bóithre, spreagann siad taisteal gníomhach, agus ligeann sé do dhaoine de gach aois agus cumas sult a bhaint as a bheith amuigh faoin aer.
“Mar sin, ba mhaith liom aitheantas a thabhairt do dhíograis agus dúthracht Chomhairle Contae Dhún na nGall, foireann an tionscadail, ionadaithe tofa áitiúla, grúpaí pobail amhail Moving Mevagh Forward, Bailte Slachtmhara Charraig Airt agus na nDúnaibh, gnólachtaí, úinéirí talún agus conraitheoirí áitiúla, agus gach duine a chabhraigh leis an tionscadal seo a thabhairt chun críche.”