To ensure that the Tullamore Regeneration Framework and Grand Canal Harbour Masterplan meets the aspirations of the whole community the team behind the project would like to hear from all stakeholders within the local community of Tullamore.

The Tullamore Regeneration Framework and Grand Canal Harbour Masterplan are available for inspection in the offices of Offaly County Council, Áras an Chontae, Tullamore Municipal District, Tullamore Library during normal office hours until Thursday 11 July. An open day will also be held in Tullamore Library this Thursday 20 June from 12pm to 7pm.

Jointly commissioned by Waterways Ireland and Offaly County Council, the Tullamore Regeneration Framework aims “to serve as a model for regeneration, promoting compact growth, creating healthy and appealing public spaces, enhancing urban resilience, improving permeability, fostering vibrancy and encouraging sustainable mobility”.

The multi-disciplinary consultancy team in Brady Shipman Martin and Faulkner Browns delivered the framework to act as a main driver for compact mixed-use urban development within the town centre of Tullamore and seeks to establish a vision for the development of several key opportunity sites.

Grafton Architects, as the appointed consultancy team, have culminated their assessment of the study area in a masterplan that reimagines the harbour area through a catalogue of scaled development opportunities.

The masterplan study area also includes the Grand Canal harbour and adjacent lands, the Canal Spur Line enabling access into the harbour basin, and Young’s Store — a three-storey former warehouse with an approximate floor area of 275 square metres fronting the canal along Convent Road.

Anna Marie Delaney, chief executive of Offaly County Council welcomes submissions on the plans: “The Tullamore Regeneration Framework and Grand Canal Harbour Masterplan provide immense opportunity to Tullamore and the wider county to reimagine and reinvigorate the county town. The plans address the opportunities and challenges within Tullamore and with URDF support creates opportunities for future projects in the town.”

Éanna Rowe, operations controller with Waterways Ireland noted the significant milestone being reached with this consultation stage in finalising the masterplan.

“Waterways Ireland, as the navigation authority with responsibility for the Grand Canal and Harbour in Tullamore, is looking forward to the realisation of the masterplan’s vision and that its adoption will provide a framework and template for the full integration of the harbour into the fabric of Tullamore,” Rowe said.

Submissions or observations with respect to the proposed Tullamore Regeneration Framework and Grand Canal Harbour Masterplan Framework may be made in writing to Tullamore Municipal District, Town Hall, Cormac Street, Tullamore or submitted via email to [email protected] on or before Thursday 25 July.

Further information is available from Jean Ryan, A/Director of Services, Offaly County Council via email at [email protected].

The Tullamore Regeneration Framework and Grand Canal Harbour Masterplan are funded by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage under the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund 2020 (URDF) and Offaly County Council with funding from Waterways Ireland for the Grand Canal Harbour Masterplan.

Waterways Ireland advises all masters of vessels on and users of the Grand Canal that the 51st IWAI Shannon Harbour Rally will take place from Friday 21 to Sunday 23 June.

All vessels entering the Grand Canal are reminded to ensure they have a valid permit for the duration of their stay, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways adds.

Visitor permits may be applied for on the Waterways Ireland website by completing the CMP application. Please ensure that the permit start date is correct as the permit will be valid for one month from this date.

Waterways Ireland advises users of the Royal Canal feeder in Mullingar that the towpath between the Royal Canal and St Oliver Plunkett GAA Club is closed until Monday 1 July inclusive.

This closure is to facilitate new culvert construction underneath the Royal Canal supply channel.

The cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways says it regrets any inconvenience that this may cause and thanks its customers for their co-operation in relation to this matter.

Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels on and users of the Shannon Navigation that Jons Civil Engineering will be carrying out works on Carrick-on-Shannon bridge on Friday 7 and Monday 10 June.

Navigation will be restricted to one arch of the bridge and masters of vessels should proceed with additional caution in the area, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways adds.

Tarmonbarry’s lifting bridge on the Shannon Navigaton has finally reopened after an extended closure for essential maintenance, Waterways Ireland has confirmed.

Diversions had been in place since early February when the bridge in Co Roscommon was closed for works that eventually required procuring specialist parts from abroad.

The news will come as a relief to southern Shannon boaters who say they have been prevented from participating in rallies in northern reaches due to the closure.

“This has had disastrous consequences for boating on the Shannon so far this season,” one boater told Afloat.ie in recent days. “To date [there has been] very little activity on Lough Ree as boats cannot get down from Carrick, etc, nor can the southern boats make it up north.”

Elsewhere on the inland waterways, Levitstown lifting bridge in Co Kildare on the Barrow Navigation has also reopened following maintenance works.

Waterways Ireland advises all masters of vessels using the Grand Canal from Lowtown in Co Kildare to Shannon Harbour that water patrollers will assist with the operation of locks daily from 9.30am to 6pm during the boating season.

Safe passage through locks outside these hours will be the responsibility of the master of the vessel, and they must ensure the lock gates are left as found, with the water pressure on the breast gates.

The cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways says it thanks its customers for their cooperation in relation to this matter.

Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels on the Erne System that the 2024 Erne Boat Rally will be taking place from Friday 24 to Monday 27 May.

Boaters taking part with gather at Lisnaskea Boat Club on Friday evening for the Commodore’s Dinner and entertainment.

On Saturday morning (25 May), the rally will leave Lisnaskea Boat Club at 10.30am for an afternoon stop at the Round ‘O’ Jetty Enniskillen. All other boaters are advised that the outside front jetty section will be reserved for the rally boats.

At 4.30pm on Saturday the rally departs for an overnight stop at Lough Erne Yacht Club.

Then on Sunday (26 May), the boats will depart at 4pm for an overnight stop and entertainment at Rossharbour Resort.

On Monday morning (27 May). the rally will depart at 11am for a lunch stop at the Round ‘O’ and then move onwards to The Moorings restaurant for the prize-giving and closing entertainment.

The cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways says it thanks its customers for their cooperation in relation to this matter.

Waterways Ireland advises that the Carlow Regatta rowing event will take place on Sunday 2 June on the Barrow Navigation.

Masters of vessels are requested to proceed with additional caution in the vicinity of the event and obey safety boat instructions.

The cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways says it thanks its customers for their cooperation in relation to this matter.

Waterways Ireland advises users of the Royal Canal between Leixlip and Maynooth that cycleway upgrade works have recently restarted along this stretch of the canal in Co Kildare.

These works will require periodic closures of the canal towpaths in the area over the upcoming period. Signage giving more details of ongoing and upcoming closures will be erected at applicable sites along the route when appropriate.

Navigation passage will generally continue to be possible throughout works though some additional restrictions may apply, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways adds.

Upgrade works recently commenced at the Dublin city end of the canal, between the North Strand and Phibsborough, as previously reported on Afloat.ie.

Waterways Ireland advises all masters of vessels on and users of the Barrow Navigation that Levitstown lifting bridge in Co Kildare is closed with immediate effect (as of Friday 17 May) to facilitate maintenance works.

It is anticipated that the bridge will be closed until Friday 24 May. The cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways says it will issue an update for boaters in due course.