[6] The rest of the route follows the canal towpaths, which are of varying quality and includes the "Deep Sinking" section which is currently inadvisable for amateur cyclists.

The Westmeath way stretches 28 kilometres (17 mi)[9] from the Meath-Westmeath border and is proposed to meet to the town of Ballinea, south-west of Mullingar.

[10] The section from Mullingar to Athlone is a rail-trail over the disused Mullingar-Athlone rail line, (with refurbished former stations in Moate and Castletown Geoghegan).

Teachta Dála for Galway East, Ciarán Cannon stated in September 2015 that significant numbers of local landowners also expressed concern about the preferred route.

[39][40] In October 2015 Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Paschal Donohoe announced the withdrawal of funding for the section until the concerns of local landowners had been resolved.

[46] By July 2019 a preferred route following the rail line to Monksland, turning southwards through Crannagh More, by the River Shannon opposite Clonmacnoise, west towards Moore, crossing the R357 north of Shannonbridge, crossing the River Suck, and taking the disused Grand-Canal branch to Ballinasloe, before passing through Loughrea, Clarinbridge and Oranmore before going into Galway city, was published.

[50] The route will pass through Shannonbridge, Ballinasloe, Clonfert, Meelick, Portumna, Woodford, Gort, Coole Park, Kinvara, Kilcolgan, Clarinbridge and Oranmore, before reaching Galway city.