The Claire Byrne Show
Have infrastructure projects in Adare been prioritized over others?
12 May 2026
Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
The Clare Byrne Show on Newstalk. With Aviva Insurance.
with all of the discussion that has happened around the infrastructure set to be in place for the Ryder Cup in Adair, with the construction of a temporary train station along with the Adair bypass, both to be completed before the event starts in September 2027. And questions have been raised over the speed of these projects, while other infrastructure plans seem to get mired in delays.
I'm joined now by Minister of State and Limerick TD Niall Collins. and Sinn Féin Public Expenditure Spokesperson and Chair of the Finance Committee, Maurice Farrell. And you're both welcome to the programme. Minister Collins, I'll start with you.
If we use the example of Navan, where people have been waiting 30 years for a rail link to Dublin, and it seems as though once the golfer said they were coming to Limerick, the sods were turned on roads and train stations reopened with the stroke of a pen.
Chapter 2: What infrastructure projects are being prioritized in Adare?
How do you explain that?
Well, I explain it by virtue of the fact that the people of Adair and West Limerick and the wider county Limerick area have been waiting for a bypass of Adair for about 40 years. The current bypass, which is under construction, is part of a larger road scheme, which is the Limerick to Fines motorway.
It's a new road which has been constructed from Limerick City, which will bypass Adair and link the port of Fines to the motorway network. And that's being financed by money from the European Commission because the Port of Fines is our second largest port and there's a fund of money there to link our major ports to the motorway network.
But my question is, has it all been pushed along because of the Ryder Cup?
Yeah, so just to give you context, that road scheme that I've just described encompasses an Adair bypass. And it's the fourth version of an Adair bypass, which finally got over the line over a 40-year period. So this road is a long time, this bypass is a long time in gestation and finally it's being constructed. So you're right to say that it has been expedited by virtue of the Ryder Cup.
That decision was taken to carve out a section of the Limerick to Port of Fines new road where a seven kilometre section of that where a carve out was made to construct that in advance of the Ryder Cup.
So you can see why people would say, look what can happen when there is the political will for the thing to happen.
Well, you could look at it that way, but you could also bear in mind what I've just told you. We're 40 years waiting for this road. And secondly, the project is shovel ready. It had been through planning. It had been through procurement. You know, there have been a number of judicial reviews, which thankfully those hurdles were removed.
So it was kind of at the top of the queue, the same as every other large infrastructure project around the country goes through all of these processes. They're all different. They're all of their own challenges. They're unique and they pose their own problems in terms of trying to bring them to fruition. So I suppose the decision was taken. The overall...
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Chapter 3: Why are the Adare train station and bypass being expedited?
I think the issue here is making sure that they're delivered in all those areas where they are needed, but also then make sure things aren't just on a temporary basis. I mean, we're talking about a temporary train station coming into effect, what will that mean for the long term for the people that are living in that area?
But what I really think, to be honest, Clare, is like we know so many areas lack the basic infrastructure to be able to really have the place operating. And the government had a critical infrastructure bill where they refused to actually define what critical infrastructure is.
So is it now that critical infrastructure depends on what events will be taking place in that area or is it actually based on the need?
It's a good question. You know, what big thing have you got coming to your local area and therefore you get the stuff that you need as a result, Niall?
No, I don't agree. And I think it's look, I think it's a very cynical way of describing it. As I've said to you, we're 40 years. This is the fourth attempt at trying to build a much needed bypass. Anybody who travels through West Limerick.
You're sort of proving the point. No, I'm just saying it isn't needed. This has been asked for and asked for and asked for. But it was only when Rory McIlroy and his friends were coming to Adair that you got the thing.
No, because the project, as I've said to you, described it, it's shovel-ready. You know, it had been through planning.
Lots of things are shovel-ready now around the country and they don't happen.
And that's why the government has made the correct decision in terms of using the budget surpluses and the windfall exchequer receipts that we're receiving from our corporation, the bonus receipts from our corporation taxes,
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Chapter 4: What challenges have been faced in completing the Adare bypass?
I could point to you the huge work that's going on by a project design team, the NM20, which is designing the new motorway between Limerick and Cork. That's going on. That's been replicated right around Ireland where large infrastructure projects are being worked on and designed. And rightly so, the funding will be available to them.
A listener says the Ryder Cup will be a huge occasion for Ireland and we should do what's needed to showcase our country and our amazing golf courses. You agree with that, do you?
Well, of course, of course we should be putting our best foot forward when it comes to the Ryder Cup. When it comes to anything on an international stage, of course we should. And people will obviously, the first thing people will say is, well, they should have an economic kickback.
And what I would say there is that the likes of Connemara, that doesn't have the basic infrastructure that is needed. And I mean the very, very basic infrastructure in terms of good quality roads, in terms of
having, you know, an electricity system that works on a continuous basis that isn't, you know, when a gust of wind comes, is stopped or having the sewerage system in order to be able to build homes and indeed to entice businesses. You know, having basic infrastructure in place should also have an economic kickback.
It not only does it create jobs in terms of actually building that critical infrastructure, but it is also there to be able to allow people to live in a place, allow people to work in a place. And I think that's what's been missing from government is that they don't see that. They don't look at that basic infrastructure.
The other point I would make again, being from Galway, I remember Galway 2020 and I remember, you know, the hoo-ha in relation to that. Now, there was lots of obstacles, Covid, etc. But I remember saying from the beginning when we were talking about the bid for Galway 2020, that we need to have permanent infrastructure.
Yes, for the Galway City of Culture, that we need to have permanent infrastructure that comes out of the back of that. We hadn't seen any permanent infrastructure coming out of the back of Galway 2020. What is the story here with a temporary train station? What does this mean going forward for people in terms of commuter-style trains? We're constantly asking in Galway for commuter-style trains.
The Athenry to Galway train, for example, needs to be double-tracked to allow commuter-style trains. We're asking for the Western Rail corridor to be reopened. What are we looking at here in terms of permanent beneficiaries that also have an economic kickback that will absolutely assist for people to live, work and work in the West.
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Chapter 5: How does the Ryder Cup influence infrastructure development?
If you could get some golf fans to book accommodation in Patrick's Well, you might get a temporary train station in Patrick's Well, you know, if you push for that.
The council are presently doing a part eight process, which a part eight for your listeners is where the local authority applies to itself for planning permission to provide a park and ride facility in Patrick's Well. And myself and local councillor Fergus Kilcoyne are now seeking for that planning... application to be amended to include a train station in Patrick's Well, you are going for it.
You're going for the train station.
Of course we're going for it. You take every opportunity. The iron is hot. We are public representatives and we're also local representatives.
You see, I'm listening to you. Look, I appreciate your honesty.
We put in a bid for Galway for the Ryder Cup in the future and we might get our ring road, we might get the Western Rail corridor back open and maybe we'll actually have some sewerage and good water infrastructure in the area. That's the reality, but it's not.
Mairead, you're rightfully advocating for all of those issues in Galway and I support them. And once they are shovel ready, they will be at a state of readiness for government to respond through the funding being made available through the Future Ireland Infrastructure Fund. And that's good. That's good governance and it's good policy.
You can understand, though, that people in Navanby have been hopping over this.
I just don't see the same urgency when it comes to the basic infrastructure in other places. I think it's a good thing. I'd never be against infrastructure coming into place. Obviously, it should not be temporary. It should be permanent. That's absolutely necessary and clear. But I don't see the same level of urgency.
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Chapter 6: What concerns are raised about temporary infrastructure solutions?
Conversation that counts.