ARMAGH TO MONAGHAN GREENWAY
“Blackwater Greenway”
A potential greenway route west from Armagh City through Killylea, with its crumbling station quietly waiting to be discovered, on through Tynan, turning south past Caledon and Glaslough on the way to Monaghan town.
ROUTE DETAILS
| Length | 26 kilometres |
| Estimate | £3.9 million |
| Timescale | 2026 to 2040 |
| Type | Former railway |
| Title | Great Northern Railway |
| Border area | Yes |
| Councils | Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council |
| Monaghan County Council |
IMAGES
PROGRESS UPDATES
Idea stage
Feasibility
Construction
Completed
July 2007: £39 million partial restoration of the Ulster Canal announced
June 2016: ABCBC applies to Stage 1 of the DfI Small Grants Programme for Greenways competition
November 2016: ABCBC secures DfI £8,000 grant funding for a feasibility study on “Portadown – Caledon (via Armagh) Greenway”
August 2017: “Portadown – Caledon (via Armagh) Greenway” misses cut for DfI £25,000 grant funding
September 2017: EU-Funded €4.95m Ulster Canal Greenway project is launched
August 2018: £25,000 funding announced for “Portadown – Caledon (via Armagh) Greenway” detailed design study
RESOURCES ELSEWHERE
Ulster Canal Greenway (Monaghan County Council)
Ulster Canal Greenway (Waterways Ireland)
Ulster Canal History (Craigavon Historical Society)
Ulster Canal Greenway video (Special EU Programmes Body)
Good practice: Ulster Canal Greenway (Interreg Europe)
Disused Ulster Canal Is Proposed Greenway, Public Consultations Commence
Restoration of Ulster Canal Proves A Technical Challenge (Afloat)
£1.5m for Ulster Canal – shut to boats since 1931 (Belfast Telegraph)
Work delayed on first stage of reopened Ulster Canal (Irish Times)
Work set to begin on Ulster Canal (Irish News)
Assessing geotechnical constraints on the development of Ulster Canal Greenway Phase 2
Ulster Canal Cycle Trail (Cycle NI)
Ulster Canal Cycle Route (Sustrans)
Railways in Monaghan – past and present (Irish Identity)
Exercise Explore Enjoy: A Strategic Plan for Greenways (Department for Infrastructure) PDF 2.8MB
Strategic Plan for Greenways Base Report (AECOM, Sustrans, DfI) PDF 15.7MB
GREENWAY PROJECTS WHICH INTERSECT
A 57km route through counties Armagh, Monaghan and Louth linking Armagh City with Keady, Castleblayney and Dundalk.
A 33km intercity route from Armagh to Newry through Markethill and the mile-long Lissummon Tunnel.
A 15km route from Portadown along the former Great Northern Railway line, passing by Richhill, to Armagh City.
CALEDON TO MAGUIRESBRIDGE GREENWAY
A 60km route following the line of the former Clogher Valley Railway and the succession of roadside railway stations still standing along the way.
A 74km route along the Ulster Canal – being restored in stages – through four counties and linking Lough Neagh with Upper Lough Erne.
GET INVOLVED
Successful greenway projects are driven by the passion of local people. If you have an update to share, a story to tell about the history of the route or future of the Armagh to Monaghan Greenway, or if you want to submit a picture or video to this page, please get in contact.