Tullamore Harbour revamp moves closer
Ambitious plans to redevelop the harbour in Tullamore have a moved a step forward with the news that work on a new Waterways Ireland depot could begin in March, which will see the existing facility move from its current waterside location to a green field site on the edge of the town.
This project will free up space in the harbour area and open up the possibility of a redevelopment and a revitalisation of the entire area in the future. A draft report in relation to the Tullamore Harbour redevelopment master plan is expected next month.
Commissioning of a Masterplan by Waterways Ireland and Offaly County Council began in November 2022, with support from the Urban Regeneration & Development Fund.
The masterplan is currently being finalised by Grafton Architects.
Operations Controller at Waterways Ireland Éanna Rowe told last Monday's Offaly County Council meeting that it was “really exciting” that the Tullamore depot will be moving from its existing location near the harbour to a greenfield site in Cappincur.
“We're putting in four different buildings that will accommodate our depot for all of the eastern region. We have our planning in place, our site investigations and preparations are complete,” explained Mr Rowe.
Contracts have been prepared and the plan for the depot will go to e-tenders this month, aiming for the contract to be awarded in March.
“It's an 18-month construction, a really significant capital investment by Waterways Ireland in the future of our eastern regional depot in Tullamore. It will free up the existing harbour, said Mr Rowe.
Waterways Ireland is currently undertaking a masterplan that looks at the harbour site through three different uses - commercial, residential and leisure potential.
Cllr Sean O'Brien has said that the Tullamore Harbour master plan to be put in place by Waterways Ireland is going to be a “huge development” for the town. The Independent councillor added that he is looking forward to the project in Tullamore and to working with Waterways Ireland. He said that he was “delighted” to hear that the new depot will cover all of the eastern region.
A draft report for the Tullamore Harbour redevelopment master plan is expected next month. Under the Shannon Tourism master plan, there are also plans to develop Banagher and Shannonbridge, the Grand Canal Greenway and the Shannon and Sew Discovery Points.
Cllr Declan Harvey said that he “can't wait” for the Tullamore master plan to be enacted because it's “going to lift Tullamore immensely” along with the Tullamore depot.
Cllr Noel Cribbin added that Waterways Ireland had big plans for Tullamore and asked if they had any plans for Edenderry Harbour as “it does need some money spent on it to improve it and to bring it on.”
Mr Rowe replied that there were no plans for Edenderry harbour. He said that the redevelopment master plan for Tullamore Harbour is a “really exciting project” for Waterways Ireland.
Speaking about the Grand Canal Greenway, Mr Rowe said that he was “delighted” to announce that “80% of the route is now complete” and it is expected to be connected with Edenderry by the end of the year. He stated: “We do expect completion all the way to Dublin by mid to late 2025.”
They're also looking at connecting Shannon Harbour where the Grand Canal Greenway ends to the Dublin/Galway Greenway down to Limerick.
Cllr O'Brien commented: “I think the potential there of the Grand Canal is extremely important for us in Offaly as it stretches right from Edenderry on the east, right through to Banagher and Shannon Harbour over the west and many great places in between including Tullamore and Pullough.”
Cllr Robert McDermott said: “It's good to see that there is plans to bring the greenway from Edenderry up to Dublin. He also suggested using the old rail link from Edenderry to Enfield to link the Royal Canal and the Grand Canal. “ I think that would open up a lot of opportunities around north Offaly.”
Cllr Harvey noted the “fierce problem” with dumping along the canal. Cllr Tony McCormack added: “It’s great to be able to travel from Dublin right down to the Shannon along the canal. It’s a fantastic amenity used by a huge amount of people.”
Mr Rowe concluded that linking from the Royal Canal to the Grand Canal would be a “mammoth task” and that it was “technically feasible” but was “certainly not on the radar” for Waterways Ireland. However, the Operations Controller for Waterways Ireland said that it was “imminently possible” from a “greenway and cycling perspective”.