Grant of €73,000 will put major leisure scheme ‘in the saddle’

LIMERICK Fianna Fáil TD John Cregan has welcomed the provision of grant aid funding up to €73,125 for the Ballyhoura Cycling Hub, Kilmallock, saying it “will help attract more cyclists and tourists to the area”.

The project is a two-sided approach with the development of localised loop routes throughout Ballyhoura and the development of longer distance routes providing access into the area. As well as Kilmallock, the 55km loop will also incorporate Ardpatrick, Glensheen, Glenanaar, Doneraile and Effin.

“This is great news for everyone in the Ballyhoura area. It will create a fantastic tourist facility for the growing cycle tourism trade. That will help attract more cyclists to all the various towns and villages along the route. Any further investment into the area is to be welcomed and anything we can do to attract more visitors to this part of Limerick is a positive development,” he said.

“I hope that work will begin on this project in the near future and congratulate all those involved with Ballyhoura Cycling Hub for all their work in securing this funding. It is a massive achievement that will hopefully have a significant impact for all the people of the area over the years to come.”

The funding was announced as part of the national Tourism Development Grants.

Byrne praises Council on city ‘gully cleaning’

FINE Gael Limerick City South councillor, Maria Byrne, has praised the city council for the good work achieved under its new gully cleaning programme that commenced on July 14.

“This is being provided to compliment the road works service already provided by Limerick City Council. I have been calling on the council to increase their inspections of gullies etc for a long time. I am delighted that they have taken my views on board at last and approximately 500 gullies per week are being cleaned,” she said.

“In addition the pipeline is being jetted right back to the main. This should be of great help in alleviating future flooding. We are now aware now of the increased rainfall. Limerick has had a lot of rainfall recently and in the last month it was three times higher that the corresponding month in any year since records began. We have had the highest rainfall recorded after Dublin in the Limerick Area.”

She added that reports suggest “that climate change will lead to greatly increased rainfall in future” so it “is of the utmost importance to maintain the network of gullies and pipelines and ensure that flooding does not occur in our city”.

Greens push for

’eco-tourism‘

LOCAL Green Party Representative, Trish Forde-Brennan, is calling for a city and county ‘Eco-Tourism Trail’ to be developed in a joint approach by both local authorities.

“Recent news such as Minister Martin Cullen's announcement of grant aid for the proposed Treaty Stone, boardwalk and the Ballyhoura Cycling Hub could facilitate such a tourist attraction. Funding of 75% of eligible expenditure, up to a maximum of €562,500 towards the construction of a boardwalk on Clancy strand adjacent to the Treaty Stone is now available and the proposed riverside boardwalk on Clancy Strand will link the existing plaza at the Treaty Stone with the new riverside park adjacent to the Curragour Falls,” she said.

“It is great news for Limerick as it now allows our city planners to move forward in its plans to visually enhance and utilise one of our greatest assets which is the river Shannon. Limerick people will use amenities and recreational facilities as witnessed by the recent opening of phase one of Castletroy Neighbourhood Park where the wetlands feature is a hit with those visiting the spot. It is time to look at proposals such as the Westfields Santuary Park and plan to make the park a reality.”

She added that the park would protect a natural ecosystem and “could serve as a highlight on a new Limerick City and County Eco-Tourism Trail. This is surely a worthwhile project which our local authorities could work on together and I am calling on them to bring such a proposal to their respective council meetings as a matter of priority”.

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