Category: IH News 2022

Echolive.ie reports that plans are coming together for the sale of the former Cork & Youghal Railway trackbed at Summerhill in Cork City (located on an embankment above the Lower Glanmire Road) by CIE to Cork City Council, to allow the area to be converted into a public park.

Industrialheritageireland.info welcomes this initiative.

The Irish Independent reports that Fingal County Council are to undertake conservation works on the derelict Guinness bridge, which spans the Strawberry Beds in Dublin.

Unfortunately, these are just stabilisation works – the bridge will not be restored to permit passengers to access Farmleigh from south of the River Liffey.

Or so you would think, given the enthusiasm for Thon Sheugh in the Irish Government.

However, there is another cross border project that is ready to go, except that, according to the Irish Independent, the Government of Ireland is having issues around planning permission (An Bord Pleanala level so not a Donegal County Council issue) and the granting of a foreshore licence in relation to the River Foyle.

Perhaps some of the enthusiasm for Thon Sheugh could be diverted to this project to get it across the line.

In a rare outbreak of common sense, the Irish Government has asked the (suspended) NI Assembly to commit to Thon Sheugh and “restore” the Ulster Canal in Co. Armagh to aid the Peace Process ™.

Per the BBC, Government Minister Heather Humphries was quoted thus:

“This here is about bringing our communities together,”

“It’s showing the benefit of working together and it will make a difference here in Clones, of course that will also make a difference along the route where it travels through Northern Ireland and right into Castle Saunderson in County Cavan.”

The arguments against the “restoration” of the Ulster Canal as anything other than a greenway remain. That Humphries is asking others to commit to facilitate this fetish of the Irish Government is appalling – what next, ask NI to pay to drain the Shannon?

The on/off bridge proposed to connect Co. Louth with Co. Down has gone out to tender, with the Government of Ireland playing rich uncle and offering to pay for the whole thing.

Still, better this than the Ulster Canal.

Agriland.ie reports on the grant aided restoration of a stone wall, which was a boundary of the Lough Rinn (sic) estate south of Mohill.

The IH significance of this is further into the article as the wall was deemed part of an adjoining bridge and weir, which have also been restored.

Midlands103 are reporting that Westmeath County Council are to grant aid the fitting out of a building at the former railway station at Streamstown Junction (on the Mullingar – Athlone greenway) as a cafe, to the tune of €33,000.

This is a welcome initiative and Westmeath County Council are to be commended for this move.

In my last post, I referenced Brian J Goggin and his website www.irishwaterwayshistory.com.

Brian was working on a book at the time of his passing and his family completed this book – Waterways and Means – which was launched in Dublin in June this year (I was honoured to be invited to the launch).

Brian’s family have posted a review of the book on www.irishwaterwayshistory.com today, suggesting the book as a suitable Christmas present – a recommendation I can support, having bought the book at its launch.