A NEW train station for Patrickswell could be on the cards on the back of work being done to facilitate the 2027 Ryder Cup in Adare, it has been revealed.
County Limerick TD and Minister of State at the Justice Department, Niall Collins, revealed that in addition to a “temporary” station in Adare scheduled for completion before the major golfing tournament, there are also plans for a park and ride facility at Patrickswell and he and local councillor Fergus Kilcoyne are seeking an amendment for a train stop and platform as well.
Minister Collins was speaking during an interview with Newstalk’s Claire Byrne on Tuesday and was being pressed by the presenter on whether Adare is being singled out for special treatment and getting a new bypass because it is hosting such a prestigious golf event.
The Minister described it as “cynical” to say that. The Ryder Cup will take place in the County Limerick village in September 2027 and the Government has announced a series of infrastructure projects ahead of the event.
A temporary railway station will be constructed in Adare at a cost of €3million, while the long awaited bypass is due to be completed by June 2027.
Minister Collins refuted suggestions of Adare getting ahead of the posse or that the project was fast tracked.
“This is the fourth attempt to get the bypass over the line. It’s been 40 years pending and now all of the hurdles have been overcome and it is a project that is shovel ready,” he said.
“That decision was taken to carve out a section of the Limerick to Port of Foynes new road … where a carve out was made to construct that in advance of the Ryder Cup.”
Speaking about the temporary rail station for Adare, he said that it is a “matter for Irish Rail to decide what temporary means”.
He added that with a construction cost of €3million, he did not believe that piece of infrastructure will be only temporary.
On the show, Sinn Féin TD Mairead Farrell described the Adare bypass as a necessary piece of infrastructure.
However, she questioned whether the town was receiving special treatment because of the Ryder Cup.
“The Government had a critical infrastructure bill where they refused to actually define what critical infrastructure is,” she said.
“So, is it now that critical infrastructure depends on what events will be taking place in that area or is it actually based on what you need?”