Organiser of this week’s canal restoration public meeting, Cllr Aengus O’Rourke, has called for a committed community effort in order to make the project a success.
The envision project will see the 2.3km stretch of canal in Athlone town restored to its former glory with the help of volunteers from the community.
Speaking after the meeting on Monday night Cllr O’Rourke said the next step for the team was to establish a working committee to drive the project forward. “We will be in touch again with all of those who turned up on the night, with their help and the help of the broader community we will move this plan forward.”
“For 100 people to voluntarily come along on a wet Monday night to a public meeting was way beyond my expectations, it was an amazing display of public interest in this project. I am very proud as chairman of the Canal Restoration Group to say that this turnout has given oxygen to our proposal and validates our work so far. However, the real work starts now; we need to move this from being a proposal to a detailed professional plan with specific objectives, targets, and timelines.”
It is planned to break the project up into four phases and with the help and funding from local authorities, Waterways Ireland, OPW, Irish Sports Council, Inland Waterways, and the support of other canal restoration groups and fundraising activities should result in a high quality public amenity. “To invest in the canal is to invest in our town,” explained Cllr O’Rourke.
Phase one of the project is the Talbot Avenue area which is the best maintained part of the canal. Some dredging and clearance would be needed as would the construction of high quality jetties and moorings to allow tourists easy access to such areas as the castle and new art gallery. Cllr O’Rourke explained that Waterways Ireland have responsibility for this area of the canal and the restoration group would work with them to develop this area.
Phase two of the works would be carried out from the Galway Road bridge, where stagnant water is the major issue. “There is very little water here, engineering would be needed to excavate the canal channel,” he said. Athlone Town Council and Westmeath County Council would have responsibility for this area.
Phase three takes in the area from Battery Bridge down to Mick McQuaid Bridge. Here an area of the canal has been filled in and currently holds a playground. Cllr O’Rourke believes a a waterside play area can be created.
Finally phase four of the project, from Mick McQuaid Bridge down to the junction with the Shannon, would need landscaping.
Speaking at the meeting Cllr O’Rourke said the restoration of the canal on the west side of the town could allow for greater tourism, inward investment, an increase in property values, job generation, a new recreational area, and an improved image of the area. “The community must come together on this,” he said.
Other speakers on the night included Dave McCabe of Inland Waterways, Tom McLoughlin of Boyne Restoration Canal Group, author and historian Gearóid O’Brien, and broadcaster and environmentalist Éanna Ní Lamhna.
The canal restoration committee will now look for support from councils, State, and semi-State agencies.
“Through these bodies and others we will work at raising the required funding, resources, and advice. We will also begin the process of organising the volunteering effort. This restoration plan will be a multi faceted effort and will require shrewd and professional management,” concluded Cllr O’Rourke.
