*Shannon Airport.
PROVISION of a rail link for Shannon Airport offers ‘massive potential’ for the Airport and region but the “pussy footing” around proposals needs to stop, Clare County councillors stressed this week.
No funding has been set aside by the Government in 2026 to even explore the feasibility of a railway link to Shannon Airport.
This is despite the inclusion of the provision of a rail spur in the €165bn National Development Plan (NDP) which runs from 2021 to 2030. The All-island strategic rail review approved by the Government in July 2024 includes a €30bn rail investment strategy for the next two decades.
In August, Minister of State at the Department of Transport with responsibility for International and road transport, logistics, rail and ports, Seán Canney (IND) told The Clare Echo the rail spur “can be done and it is a matter of getting it done”.
His colleague, Minister for Transport, Darragh O’Brien (FF) doesn’t appear to be signing off the same hymn sheet and refused to provide a timeline on its completion during his last visit to Shannon in November.
Cllr James Ryan (SF) in a proposal before the Council on Monday asked the local authority to seek “clarification on the current policy and plan for the rail link between Limerick and Shannon Airport”.
He stated, “this is a question worth asking, in one place it is reported that it will cost €200m and another it is said to be €400m. This would be great for Co Clare and it would take a huge amount of cars off the road and allow for passengers to grow in all directions. The rail link is currently part of National Development Plan but it is now on the long finger. Having a clear plan from Government on the rail link and clear intentions would help a lot of future development, it seems to be quite a lot of talk as opposed to a firm commitment from the Government”. He continued, “We are lucky to have a rail link running very close to Shannon, it is not a million miles away, the potential for Shannon and the Mid-West region is massive if we have a proper rail link”.
Seconding the motion, Cllr Michael Begley (IND) stressed that detail must be provided on where the proposal is ranked within the National Planning Framework. “I’d say it is very down the list, be realistic and look at cost of the Metro link, we are a long way away, there’s very few people in the Chamber that will be lucky to see the rail link, maybe David Griffin might see it but I don’t see anyone in my vintage seeing it. We don’t need any more pussy footing about, we need a definite answer from the Minister on when it is envisaged in this Government or the next, I’d say they have no interest in putting a timeframe on it”.
Stressing he supports the rail link, Cllr Pat O’Gorman (FF) flagged “major questions” surrounding suitable routes. “I know several farmers in Cratloe and Sixmilebridge who have land completely sterilised because of this. Darragh O’Brien should come down and liaise with the farmers on the ground, there is another proposal to run the spur from Limerick to Shannon along the centre of carriageway linking in with Bunratty, Cratloe and Sixmilebridge, it has to happen sooner rather than later, every one of these people are left in limbo, their children in limbo and their land cannot be used”.
Shannon Airport is one of the key strategic drivers for the Mid-West, Cllr David Griffin (FF) underlined. “With the proposed upgrade of the N19 and investment to public transport, it only makes sense to put proper infrastructure in place and link public transport”.
Frustration centres around the lack of movement on the rail spur, Cllr Michael Shannon (FF) lamented. He suggested a bus be run from Sixmilebridge train station to Shannon Airport to quantify the numbers that would use a rail link.
Ireland is “one of the worst countries in Europe on connectivity,” Cllr Pat Hayes (FF) stated. “The power of money can surpass a lot of things, we could open an Adare to Foynes rail section, they are putting a new station in Adare and because of social issues we could open a new station in Moyross, I don’t see why some of the issues we’re talking about shouldn’t be a priority. It is crazy that we can’t have connectivity”.
Recalling that the late Seán Hillery (FF) first spoke of a rail spur in the Council Chamber twenty years ago, Cllr Pat Daly (FF) proposed that a deputation from the local authority travel to Dublin to meet Minister O’Brien to discuss the matter. This was seconded by Cllr John Crowe (FG) with Mayor of Clare, Cllr Paul Murphy (FG) stating he was happy to be involved in the deputation if it occurred during his time in office. “We can talk all day, we need to make a strong statement, if we don’t ask it won’t happen,” Cllr Tony O’Brien (FF) commented,
