INDEPENDENT councillor Emmett O’Brien has welcomed the designation of Ringmoylan Pier in Pallaskenry as a viewing point on the Shannon Estuary Way, which is a link to the Wild Atlantic Way.
A plaque has now been erected at Ringmoylan to explain the pier’s maritime tradition and the usage of Gandelows for transporting people across the Shannon, salmon fishing, reed cutting, and for lighthouse keeping.
Cllr O’Brien, a native of Pallaskenry, sees the designation of Ringmoylan Pier as a viewing point on the Shannon Estuary Way as a huge success for the area.
“In particular, the culmination of a number of years by the local Ringmoylan community activists, who have done huge voluntary work on the pier, cutting hedges, clearing paths, spraying and painting bollards and generally trying to improve this beautiful public utility on the Shannon Estuary,” the Adare-Rathkeale representative told the Limerick Post.
“Ringmoylan Pier was always a very popular location for people from all over Limerick City and County to attend up until the point when the open air public pool at Ringmoylan was demolished in the late nineties.
“From that point the pier decayed and it was forgotten about by the County Council and the county councillors who purported to represent Pallaskenry. Thankfully we have been fortunate enough to secure Department of Agriculture, Food & Marine and GMA (General Municipal Allocation) funding to provide a new slipway, a new surface, new seats, new footpaths and lighting,” he added.
Cllr O’Brien feels it is important that the Shannon Estuary Way links into the Wild Atlantic Way, which is an international brand.
“We are late converts to tourism in Limerick and the Shannon Estuary Way viewing points are all part and parcel of promoting Limerick as a brand connected with the Wild Atlantic Way. This is just the start of further projects along the Shannon Estuary and I have been delighted to have been a part of it to date.”
He also welcomed the designation of Ballysteen Pier as a Shannon Estuary Way viewing point.
