ByrneLooby attends the Sod Turning at Connaught Harbour Redevelopment Scheme

Connaught Harbour Redevelopment Scheme

As engineering consultants to the Connaught Harbour Redevelopment scheme, representatives from ByrneLooby including Project Manager, Paul Murphy, and Commercial Manager, Steve Gregan, attended the turning of the sod to mark the beginning of the development works at Connaught Harbour in Portumna, County Galway. ByrneLooby attended along with various county council representatives, government, and state bodies. The Connaught Harbour redevelopment project is part-funded by Waterways Ireland, Failte Ireland as part of the Shannon Tourism Masterplan, Lough Derg VEDP, Galway County Council and The Department of Rural and Community Development (through the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme) and will be delivered in two phases.

Phase 1 will see the development of a 2.4km Blueway and boardwalk from Portumna Bridge to the Lough Derg Water Recreation Park and onto Portumna Forest Park.

ByrneLooby have been appointed as lead consultants for the development of Phase 2, which consists of the construction of a new 9 berth floating marina in Connaught Harbour and the development of a new fixed timber jetty which will be manufactured by Inland and Coastal. Works will also consist of the upgrading of existing hardstanding areas to include for new car parking and a new amenity area adjacent to Portumna Bridge which will be facilitated by the removal of three buildings on the site. Footpaths will be repaired, upgraded and widened, where required, and a new road crossing will be developed connecting the amenity area to the new Blueway. Work on the development commenced in September 2022 and the project is expected to be open to the public in mid-2023.

This development will help position Portumna, the River Shannon and Lough Derg as a hub destination for international and domestic tourism. The Shannon Tourism Masterplan is the first dedicated plan undertaken on the entire Shannon Region. A collaborative project led by Waterways Ireland, with Fáilte Ireland and ten local authorities along the River Shannon and the Shannon-Erne Waterway, it sets out an integrated framework for sustainable tourism development along the Shannon across to 2030.

Steve Gregan, Commercial Manager commented: "ByrneLooby are delighted to work with Waterways Ireland and stakeholders to deliver this important infrastructure that will enhance the area and bring international tourism to this local region."

Waterways Ireland Regional Manager, Éanna Rowe added: "These projects have significant economic and social benefits and will increase the recreational and amenity value of this area. I look forward to continuing to work with the Department of Rural and Community Development, Fáilte Ireland and with Galway County Council to bring them to fruition for the people of Galway and beyond."   - source: Waterways Ireland 

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ByrneLooby is part of Ayesa. Ayesa is a global provider of IT and engineering services with over 6,300 employees and offices in 20 countries. The company develops and implements digital solutions for the private and public sectors and uses the latest technology to provide cutting-edge infrastructure design and supervision services. Visit: https://www.ayesa.com/en/