Plan to enhance Lough Derg amenities
A sum of almost €6.5 million is estimated to be spent on the development of an amenity zone incorporating Castlelough Bay and Forest and ‘The Lookout’ at Portroe as part of one of the proposals recommended under an ambitious new 10-year masterplan to enhance tourism along the River Shannon.
The project would involve the development of safe swimming and boating facilities and canoe access at Castlelough, linked by trails to The Lookout near Portroe.
The plan would also involve enhanced links to Castlelough Woods onwards to Ballina/Killaloe and to Garrykennedy and Dromineer. The document indicates that implementation of such a project would take six to ten years, and aimed at attracting 500,000 tourists to the region each year.
The project is outlined in the masterplan launched by government last week to promote tourism along the entire length of the Shannon over the next decade, entitled ‘The Shannon Mighty River of Ireland’, published by Fáilte Ireland and Waterways Ireland. The plan will see €70 million invested to boost tourism along the entire length of the Shannon by 2030.
Development already underway as part of the project is the implementation of a visitor management plan for Holy Island on Lough Derg. The plan will see the development of a Visitor Centre at Mountshannon, with guided access to the island, which the document says would provide a springboard for a unique visitor experience in East Clare.
Among other “Recommended Actions to Achieve” in the plan include the redevelopment of the Visitor Centre and Visitor Management Plan at the hydro-power station at Ardnacrusha, estimated to cost €3 million. The development is subject to a feasibility study.
The masterplan says the Lower Shannon offers a vibrant array of outdoor activities centred on Lough Derg. “The landscape is stunning, framed by the Slieve Aughty, Bernagh and Arra Mountains, offering on-water adventures in angling, sailing kayaking, bird watching and lake cruising.”
NENAGH THE GATEWAY
Nenagh is categorised as a “gateway town” to the tourist region. As such, the town would provide significant visitor services and ancillary experiences of cultural heritage and evening entertainment as well as opportunities to provide transport links to smaller settlements near the lake.
The plan recommends that consideration be given to developing new Shannon Local Link services to address a gap in public transport provision. The proposed Local Link route would serve Portumna, Terryglass, Nenagh, Dromineer, Garrykennedy and Killaloe-Ballina. A “Shannon Discovery Bus Route” along the entire length of the river is also an option mentioned.
Under a heading of “Priority Shannon Trails for Development” is “Dromineer to Killaloe and Ballina with spur to Nenagh”. Such a development would involve “an upgrading of the Lough Derg Way to strengthen links from the Killaloe-Ballina hub through Castlelough Forest Park, Garrykennedy and Dromineer and that a link to Nenagh should also be provided in order to enhance connectivity with public transport.”
Areas included for provision of safe, direct and scenic routes for walking and cycling include a route through Portumna, Lorrha and Terryglass. Such a route linking into the Hymany and Ormond Way “could create significant opportunities for ‘multi-modal’ travel where walking and/or cycling is combined with on-water travel.”
It is recommended that safe cycling and walking facilities should be provided along the 7km stretch linking Portumna and Carrigahoring. The existing N65 route did not have hard shoulders but could be enhanced to provide connectivity in the direction of Terryglass and other destinations on the eastern shore of Lough Derg.
It is stated that it was not possible to establish any detail regarding existing proposals for a trail along the eastern shore of the lake from Terryglass to Dromineer, although a looped route was included within information received from Tipperary County Council.
Killaloe-Ballina is listed as one of the four most significant “Hub Towns” along the entire length of the Shannon. There were several sites in these towns which had been identified for potential tourism development in the future.
Also listed is the development of a Shannon Greenway, a walk-cycle route being considered by Waterways Ireland linking Limerick to Killaloe, Tuamgraney and Scariff, providing a “green feeder route” to the proposed Visitor Center for Holy Island at Mountshannon.
The plan contains a proposal for the development of 'Dromineer Sailing Training Hub' as a centre of excellence for sail training.
and national and international sailing events through "enhanced experience development".
Among the recommendations is the preparation of an integrated tourism development plan for Portumna, incorporating the local castle, forest park, harbour, friary and town itself "to ensure that the visitor experience and yield is greater than the sum of its parts."