Call to reopen Limerick waterways

Newly appointed junior tourism minister, Patrick O’Donovan, has been urged to act on the decision by Waterways Ireland to close to navigation stretches of the River Shannon that pass through Limerick.

Limerick is marketed as the ‘Riverside City’ and the local tourism industry has warned that the closure to boats will hit visitor numbers.

Waterways Ireland issued a marine notice on April 25 that the river, from Limerick City to Parteen Weir, was closed to navigation, due to infrastructural deficiencies caused by winter storms and flooding. It does not have the money for the remedial work.