Motorway to run through famous battlefield site

APPROVAL has been granted for a controversial section of motorway to run through a historic battlefield site tagged Ireland’s Gettysburg.

An Bord Pleanála yesterday gave Galway County Council permission to build the road to replace the existing N6 route between Galway city and Ballinasloe, passing through the site of the Battle of Aughrim.

Just one extra condition was laid down: a four-kilometre stretch of the road is to be designed to be at or below existing ground level and overbridges are to be lowered to minimise the visual impact at the edge of the battlefield.