Campaign to realise Mayo county town river's potential, but it faces obstacles

THE waterways around Castlebar are the town's 'Croagh Patrick' and a local councillor wants to see investment and support for a campaign to bring the town river up to standard as a tourism and community resource.

Councillor Harry Barrett has a vision for the town river in Castlebar becoming a major tourism resource, where people can fish or kayak.

However, it faces two obstacles that have to be cleared - a sewer pipe and the current lack of respect shown to the waterway.

To kickstart its revitalisation, Councillor Barrett tabled at motion calling on Mayo County Council to put in place a habitat management plan, to facilitate the drawdown of any future funding required to enhance and restore the Castlebar town river, Lough Lannagh and associated waterways.

This is a first step, he said, and his motion was seconded by Councillor Al McDonnell, who did caution that unless people respect the river, they were wasting their time.

Councillor Barrett said they have a resource that should be developed to its maximum capacity, but it needs specialist help and support from the government and OPW.

At the moment the river looks 'industrial' and it will require heavy investment. But the waterways are the town's 'Croagh Patrick', he said, and would draw a lot of tourism.

It should be a space where locals and tourists can go to fish and enjoy activities such as kayaking. It has massive potential, he said.

Councillor Blackie Gavin said as you go along the greenway towards Turlough, the river is blocked with trees from the storm. If a child got in over the fence they could walk across with the trees that are down.

And at Bridge Street, there's serious tree growth, trolleys and bags of rubbish in the river.

The river needs serious investment, he said, agreeing it would enhance the whole town, bringing you from Lannagh on to Bilberry and Islandeady.

It would be lovely to go from Bilberry and on down to Turlough but there's an obstacle - 'the ugliest sewer pipe', meaning you can't go straight through with a kayak, said Councillor Ger Deere.

He has previously asked for it to be redirected, highlighting the environmental risk it poses, but it couldn't be done, despite the river being a tributary of the Moy.

You could try to camouflage it, but it inhibits passage and you had to put a kayak up and then go past it.

The river is anything but clean, noted Councillor McDonnell, and he couldn't envisage a salmon venturing up it unless there is 'extraordinary' investment.

There are bags of rubbish in it that should not be in it, and that's the first thing that has to happen. Unless it is respected by people they were wasting their time.