Author: ewan.duffy

In January, I noted the end of peat harvesting in Ireland.

What is the official solution to the needs of the horticulture industry going forward? Nothing but a word salad of deferral and delay in the hope that the problem disappears off the radar.

From the article in the Irish Independent linked to above:

“With boatloads of peat imports now arriving in Ireland – the first shipment from Scotland arrived this week – representatives said they will be forced to rely on peat alternatives from the Baltic States, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and the UK over the coming months as there is no viable peat alternative in Ireland.”

So, in order to reduce Ireland’s carbon footprint, we stop the harvesting of a product in Ireland, in order to import the same product from elsewhere in the world, thereby increasing the global carbon footprint due to transport of the material to Ireland.

The English used to say (and be castigated for it) that the Irish were stupid. I think they had a point.

The Connaught Telegraph is reporting that a second series of the successful RTE programme “Great Lighthouses of Ireland” has been commissioned and the producers are looking for those with a family connection to lighthouses in Ireland to come forward with their stories.

The producers can be contacted at david@inproduction.tv.

In addition to the Boris bikes and the London cable car (but not the Garden Bridge, which was cancelled), the failed Prime Minister of the UK is edging closer to his Caligula moment with the proposals for a road/rail tunnel from Scotland to Northern Ireland.

It is rare that I find myself agreeing with Tory MPs, but on this one, I have to agree with Simon Hoare MP, who has suggested that trains in the tunnel could be hauled by unicorns and “overseen by stern, officious dodos”.

He continued “A PushMePullYou could be the senior guard and Puff the Magic Dragon the inspector.”

This is a link to a new website designed to provide information on the industrial heritage of the Coalisland/East Tyrone area.

The Meath Chronicle reports on a new assessment of a railway line to Navan.

As with most things in this country, there are so many layers of “government” and each expects some other layer to do the work but wants to be able to claim the credit when something eventually happens.

Let me give Meath County Council and its councillors some advice. You want a railway line to Navan? Then zone 1km each side of the existing trackbed from M3 Parkway to Navan for high density housing.

Better still? Establish SDZ zones in those areas and include financing for a railway line with the planning permission.

I’d also suggest approaching it in two phases. Zone sufficient land as far as the R125 outside Dunshaughlin, allowing for an extension of the line to “Dunshaughlin Parkway”, some 700m south of the original Drumree Station. This would serve as a station for Dunshaughlin and also allow for diversion of traffic off the M3 (see below).

A future extension to Navan would be easier to achieve if it only has to run from here to Navan and not M3 Parkway.

Planning permission has been granted to Waterways Ireland to restore Charlemont Lock at the entrance to the Grand Canal Basin in Dublin. From the planning application: ” The development will consist of restoring the existing lock chamber and gates at Camden Lock. The proposed works will include the installation of new timber lock gates including a pedestrian walkway over the breast gates, new hydraulic rams to allow for automation of the gates including associated ducting and new land tie collars and underground concrete anchor at each heel post. The works will also include the removal of the existing temporary steel stop logs, tilting weir and footbridge.”

Charlemont Lock is the largest of the three locks at this point – the purpose in having three locks of different sizes was to minimise water loss when letting smaller boats pass through the locks.

Back in October last year, I posted to note the passing of Brian J Goggin, amongst other things, the creator of the excellent website www.irishwaterwayshistory.com.

Today, a new post appeared on same, posted by his family, noting that the site has been archived by the National Library of Ireland and can be accessed here.