Aontú Councillor Emer Tóibín has expressed frustration following the announcement that construction has commenced on a €3 million temporary train station in Adare, Co. Limerick, to serve the 2027 Ryder Cup. The project is expected to be completed within just six months, a sharp contrast to the proposed Navan–Dublin rail line, which remains mired in delays after decades of repeated feasibility studies and false starts.
The temporary Adare station is being fast-tracked to support a one-week international event, demonstrating that with political will, rail infrastructure can be delivered quickly and at relatively low cost. Meanwhile, Navan the largest town in Ireland without a rail connection continues to face a projected timeline of 2036 at the earliest.
Speaking today, Cllr Emer Tóibín said “The speed of progress in Adare shows clearly what is possible when there is political urgency. While it is encouraging to see infrastructure delivered efficiently, it is deeply frustrating for the people of Meath, who have been campaigning for the Navan rail line for well over twenty years. A temporary station can be built in six months, yet the train won’t roll into Navan for another 10 years!”
“I have worked closely with the ‘Meath on Track’ campaign and met countless commuters facing daily round trips of three, four and even five hours to Dublin. Despite numerous studies and strategy updates, even the most basic steps such as public consultation and preferred route selection continue to be delayed. Many residents bought homes decades ago based on the promise of a rail link that has yet to materialise.”
“There has long been a practical proposal to utilise the Navan-to-Drogheda line to connect to Dublin. The NTA dismissed that idea out of hand. The rapid repurposing of the Limerick-to-Foynes line for the Ryder Cup raises serious questions as to why similar, common-sense solutions are not being applied in Meath.”
“The people of Navan deserve the same urgency as a major international event. We are not asking for temporary fixes, we need the permanent rail infrastructure that has been promised for generations. It is time for the government to match the speed seen in Adare with genuine commitment to the people of Meath.” Concluded Cllr Tóibín
