Water sports option for canal proposed

Walking and cycling may be how most people enjoy the Royal Canal in Mullingar, but local councillor Andrew Duncan believes there is scope for using it for water sports as well.

Cllr Duncan made the suggestion at the December meeting of the Municipal District of Mullingar Kinnegad, formally proposing that the district develop the arm of the Royal Canal to the west of the dog park as a facility as a water sports venue.

“It’s tailor made for a watersports facility, with a car park already there,” he said, adding that it was a “no-brainer”.

“I’d like to see something significant progress there,” pointing to an apparent surge of interest in water sports: you can see the canoe polo guys there in the harbour,” he said.

The response from the district stated that the suggestion could be examined as part of future facilities in consultation with Waterways Ireland subject to grant funding.

Cllr Duncan stressed that he did not want the proposal to be put on a shelf and left there: “I recognise the response – but I’d like to see maybe something a little bit more concrete or maybe be part of the consultation that meets Waterways Ireland just to see what they were thinking: to me, it should happen.”

The mayor, Cllr John Shaw supported Cllr Duncan’s motion, and director of services, Deirdre O’Reilly thanked Cllr Duncan volunteering to be part of a meeting with Waterways Ireland, adding that the district will try to arrange that.