The Athlone Canal Restoration Group issues an open invitation to anyone with an interest in the history of Athlone, but in particular in the history of our canal, to join them for a fascinating historical amble along the canal with Dr Harman Murtagh on December Tuesday 27 at 1.30pm.
Cllr Aengus O’Rourke, chairman of the Canal Restoration Group said “The idea of this informative and leisurely walk is to give people an insight into the fascinating and forgotten past of our canal. The canal has an extraordinary history and the restoration group want to provide an opportunity for people to sample the heritage on our doorsteps while also helping us to explore what potential there is for an asset such as the canal from a recreational point of view. The Athlone canal lies idle and overgrown today but in its day was a crucial cog in the town’s industrial and commercial wheel. The canal controlled much of the passage of freight through our town and in effect was the first Athlone by-pass! Many jobs and businesses existed because of the canal, both directly and indirectly.”
Cllr O’Rourke went on to say, “Apart from this saunter being a good opportunity for people to get out of the house on the day after St Stephen’s Day, it will also provide people with a unique and interesting insight into part of our forgotten past. Dr Harman Murtagh is an historian and has a great interest in our waterways; he will share his in-depth knowledge of those bygone years on this historical walk. This really is one of those special one-off events that should not be missed.”
Dr Harman Murtagh, from Athlone, is a retired senior lecturer in law and Irish studies at AIT. A noted historian, he has written in many scholarly publications, especially on military history, biography, and settlement studies. He edited the Irish Sword for 25 years, and contributed the Athlone fascicle to volume one of the Royal Irish Academy’s Irish Historic Towns Atlas. He is a past-president of the Old Athlone Society. Dr Murtagh is a keen Shannon One Design sailor and has a deep interest in our waterways heritage.
The Canal Restoration Group was formed during the summer of this year by Cllr Aengus O’Rourke. A public meeting was held in September at which the group presented its vision to a large crowd on how the canal could be restored with the help of the local authorities and a number of Government bodies. In October the council agreed to undertake a comprehensive feasibility study on the potential development of the canal for tourism and recreational purposes, the results of which are expected in the early months of next year.
“We urge all of those who came to our public meeting in September to come along and indeed anyone with an interest in our history and heritage. This will be a leisurely, light-hearted yet informative stroll on December 27, bring the family, meeting at Bright Ideas at 1.30pm. We advise people to be well wrapped up and have suitable footwear with them.”
