Minister Heather Humphreys was in Carlow today (22nd July) for a number of projects, the final visit of the day being to the Borris Viaduct for the official Opening.
The Borris Railway Viaduct project was approved for funding from the first call for Category 1 applications to the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund. The project was approved for funding of €654,820 for a project costing €873,092.
Carlow County Council has partnered with Borris Tidy Towns, Fáilte Ireland, Carlow Tourism and County Carlow Chamber of Commerce CLG.
The project is located in the Blackstairs Mountain Region in Borris, Co Carlow. The Borris Railway Viaduct was a key part of the walking and cycling trails infrastructure in the region however the Viaduct was closed by Carlow County Council in 2018 due to safety concerns.
The Borris Railway Viaduct project has redeveloped and upgraded the Viaduct to make it safer and more accessible to visitors and to link Borris town to its amenities. The facility can be used for walking and cycling. The completed project has delivered a new amenity and tourism facility for the Borris area.
Speaking at the opening of the Borris Viaduct the Minister said:
“It is wonderful to be able to officially open the Borris Railway Viaduct project, which received €654,820 funding under my Department’s Rural Regeneration and Development Fund.
“The Viaduct is now safer and more accessible to visitors and links Borris town to its other amenities. The facility can be used for walking and cycling and is a major tourist attraction for the Borris area, one of the key tourism centres in the south of the county and a gateway to the Blackstairs Mountain region.”
The Minister continued:
“Supporting ambitious projects that create new amenities for local people and create tourism potential are key to realising the goals of Our Rural Future, the Government’s plan to revitalise rural Ireland.
“I want to congratulate the local authority and its partners; Borris Tidy Towns, Fáilte Ireland, Carlow Tourism and County Carlow Chamber of Commerce CLG, they have really delivered for their community.”
“A bridge to the past and a link to the Future” is how Cathaoirleach of Carlow County Council Cllr. Fintan Phelan described the project. He continued to say:
“I’d personally like to thank the Minister and her officials for the support of this project and for the project team and local contractors who worked with us to develop this project. In re-opening this Viaduct you can view the sights and landscape that our ancestors would have enjoyed as they travelled by train enroute to Bagenalstown or Palace East in Wexford.”