News Release -
€2.1 million Restoration of Clancy Strand Near Completion
Restoration work on Clancy Strand in Limerick City is expected to be completed by year-end. The restoration of Clancy Strand is a collaborative project, which is administered by Limerick City Council with funds of €1.6 million secured by Shannon Development towards the €2.1 million overall cost of the project. The €1.6m in grant support was secured under the NDP 2007 – 2013 Tourism Infrastructure Fund which is also part of the Failte Ireland and Shannon Development Tourism Product Development Strategies. A further call for similar proposals in 2008 will be announced shortly and Shannon Development are currently working with Limerick City Council and other Local Authorities to seek support for qualifying projects throughout the Region. The Clancy Strand re-development is Phase 1 of the Riverside Improvement Strategy for Limerick City.
According to Eoghan Prendergast, Shannon Development Regional Development Manager for Limerick City; ‘We are delighted to be working with Limerick City Council on this exciting project. With the €1.6 million in funding and the contribution from the City Council we have been able to bring back to life one of the great landmarks of Limerick City. Once restored Clancy Strand will provide an amenity for the people of Limerick city, and tourists alike, to enjoy and make use of. Walkers, joggers, cyclists, fishermen, and canoeists, will be among those to benefit from this leisure amenity area.’
Mr Prendergast went on to say that active leisure projects are extremely important for the riverside city of Limerick and added Shannon Development is currently in discussions with Limerick City Council regarding the development of further such projects for the city.
To date, improvements at Clancy Strand include widened and re-surfaced footpaths, new street lighting, trees and street furniture, and the creation of a new amenity bund adjacent to the Curragower Falls. Between an existing bund and the Treaty Stone, a cantilevered boardwalk is proposed, which will provide spectacular viewing opportunities across the river to the medieval quarter of Limerick.
In addition to the works on Clancy Strand, Vincent Murray of Limerick City Council has confirmed that work will also be progressing in 2008 to upgrade the riverside at O’Callaghan Strand as part of Limerick City Councils Riverside Strategy, and on the south side of the river between Shannon Bridge and Sarsfield Bridge in 2009. These riverside improvement works will give Limerick City a fantastic riverside environment which will be a much improved leisure and tourist amenity in the city centre. The Riverside Strategy also includes improvements to the three principal river crossing points, (Shannon Bridge, Sarsfield Bridge and Thomond Bridge), including new street lighting, amenity lighting and refurbishment of main features. The Riverside Strategy ambition is to open walkways between the three bridges with extensions out to Barrington’s Pier and beyond.
The design proposals and development strategy for the Clancy Strand project were drawn up by Nicholas de Jong Associates (Urban Design) and contractors for the job are John Craddock Ltd. According to Nicholas de Jong; ‘An integral part of the overall Riverside Improvement Strategy is the realisation of a Riverside Legibility Initiative, aimed at increasing people’s awareness, understanding and appreciation of the waterfront experience. Legibility will be developed in various ways from simple way-finding signage to more subtle interventions such as distinctive street furniture, lighting and public art, all aimed at more effectively portraying the unique natural and built heritage of the river.’
Pictured l to r: Flan Quilligan, Tourism Projects Executive, Shannon Development; Eoghan Prendergast, Regional Development Manager (Limerick City) Shannon Development; Nicholas De Jong, Nicholas De Jong Associates; Vincent Murray, Senior Engineer, Limerick City Council and Victor Smith, Director of John Craddock Ltd.
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