Pontoon set to dock on Limerick river

A FLOATING pontoon is due to dock on the River Maigue just outside the village of Clarina.

It comes after councillors approved funding of €25,000 for the project in Ferrybridge, which will allow the area’s watersports club to take the first steps towards installing the communal facility.

At this month’s metropolitan district meeting, members approved the reallocation of funds away from a proposed greenway on the old Mungret Cement line – something which is likely to receive grant aid from elsewhere.

As well as the pontoon near Clarina, money will also be redirected to provide fencing around the skate park at Dock Road in the city centre, and a feasibility study for a similar facility in Mungret.

Patrickswell Fine Gael councillor Dan McSweeney said the pontoon plan is “very ambitious” for the Clarina community.

“A lot of work has gone into this project. But it’s one which can be brought forward very quickly.”

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He said the council’s €25,000 grant can act as “seed funding” to get the project moving, with other funding sources now able to be obtained.

His party colleague, Cllr Daniel Butler added: “This facility will be made available to local clubs, including fishing, Gandelow rowing, kayaking, bird watching, open water swimming, canoeing and marine tourism.

"It will be a community facility which will help to facilitate safe access to the river for pleasure boating, and other interested parties. There have been generations of locals involved in the use of Gandelow boats for salmon fishing and reed cutting which no are no longer practised.

"It is envisaged that the pontoon will help to encourage and maintain the use of the traditional Gandelow boat for future generations. This will help to preserve some of the local heritage associated with the River Maigue and Shannon Estuary."