Shannon tourist plan gathers pace

SLOWLY, but ever so surely, moves are being put together to develop the 368km River Shannon as one of the country’s greatest natural amenities.

Projects costing €15 million have been identified for Lough Derg alone, but the big picture is to have a plan for the entire length of the great river which rises on the slopes of the Cuilcagh Mountains, in Co Cavan. It is expected to obtain funding from the National Tourism Development Plan.

Key player is the Lakelands and Inland Waterways group, a North/South body which links Beleek, in Co Fermanagh, to Limerick and which has the support of tourism and State agencies on both sides of the border.