Council eye prospect of slipway at Ballymahon bridge

Council chiefs are in talks with Waterways Ireland officials to introduce a slipway for small boats at a bridge in Ballymahon.

Local politicians were informed of how local authority representatives were exploring the possibility of erecting a slipway at the south Longford town's Red Bridge.

That came on foot of an appeal by Fianna Fáil Cllr Pat O'Toole.

He said the need to aid the cause of local fishermen and visitors to the area was becoming ever more apparent.

“There was a new, eight berth jetty brought in at the Red Bridge about two years ago and the expectation at the time was that a slipway would be provided for smaller boats,” he said.

“A good few people use Lough Ree to fish and if you want to launch a boat in Lough Ree it's deep enough, but currently those people have to go to Newtownacashel for a slipway.”

Area Engineer Brian McNeela said talks had taken place between the council's regeneration section and Waterways Ireland with a view to meeting that demand. Funding and an assessment study would have to be both procured and carried out first, he added.