Limerick river walk gets new information signs

The Keale River Walk in Glenroe Ballyorgan received a big boost this week as 12 newly installed interpretive panels along the amenity were launched.

Following a blessing by Rev Fr Michael O’Shea, the green and white tapes were cut by Dr Allan Mee and Mr Tom Fox, who officially launched the interpretation panels for the natural heritage of the Keale River walk.

Catherine Hosford, chairperson of Ballyorgan Tidy Towns Committee, welcomed all to the launch, with special mention for parish priest Fr O'Shea, the National Heritage Council and Limerick City & County Council who funded the project. She also welcomed Ballyhoura Heritage & Environment who installed the plaques, Essie Mee of Da Vinci Creative who designed and manufactured the plaques and the landowners along the walk and all the local people.

Catherine explained the importance of the project, ‘We felt this (the interpretive panels) would enhance your experience of the walk and raise awareness of our native wildlife. We believe it will also strengthen the connections between our two communities - Glenroe and Ballyorgan,” she said.

Here are 12 signs in all - one at each village, one at each main bridge (Darragh and Ballydonoghue) and eight on the river walk itself. The village and bridge signs introduce and describe the walk and give a brief history of the location. Local historians Nioclas O' Duinnin, Paddy Fenton and Kathleen Fitzgibbon, who provided the heritage information were thanked for their vital contributions to the signs.

The panels along the river walk include birds, insects, pollinators, wildflowers and mammals.  There is something for the kids also, with the interactive  “Children's Challenge" a quiz question on each panel with the answers  on a small board at both bridges. Also on each sign there is a map of the river walk with "You Are Here" arrows so you know at what exact point you are on the walk.

Carmel Fox, Glenroe Tidy Towns Group, recognised the role Anthony Mee and the late John Hennessy had in coming up with the idea for this walk, checking it out and getting permission from the farmers, who were thanked and without whom the community would not have this great resource.

The walk was developed by Ballyhoura Heritage & Environment and is being maintained by them. They have plans to deal with erosion of areas of the river banks and areas of the pathway.

The roll of Dr Allan Mee and Mr Tom Fox were highlighted, their influence in identifying the species,  writing the text and providing the photographs was recognised as central. They provided the community with the capacity to implement a quality professional project, the audience were told. Dr Veronica Santorum was thanked for her work – the excellent pollinator panel, as was Essie Mee of Da Vinci Creative for her fabulous design of the panels and their production. Glenroe Ballyorgan Community Council is said to be proud of the project. Members of the four person project committee were thanked at the ceremony, with special thanks to Margaret Mc Donnell, who submitted the applications and claims for funding and who wasn’t available to join the launch. Thoughts were conveyed to her and her family.

The signs are now along the walk for all to enjoy.