Anger at proposed closure of Offaly bog rail tourism attraction

Staff working at the Clonmacnoise and West Offaly Bog Rail at the Blackwater works near Shannonbridge have been told by its operator, Bord na Mona, that the tourist attraction has closed. The ending of the nine-kilometre educational rail journey through Blackwater Bog, near Shannonbridge, has prompted councillors in the Ferbane electoral area to request a meeting with Bord na Mona to express their concern about the decision. Cllr Connie Hannify pointed out that the bog train was one of the county"s long-established touist attractions and that its closure would have a knock-on effect on the economy in Shannonbridge. 'It was started in 1992 and was one of the first pieces of tourist infrastructure in Offaly, apart from Clonmacnois and Birr Castle,' she said. 'They were able to attract the tour bus trade and I know that there were 60 bookings made for group trips on the train next year. It was seen as part of a package with Clonmacnois for tourists who might stay in Athlone and then travel out to the Bog Train and to Clonmacnois. 'I think closing it is a foolish decision and there"s a lot of economic concern in the area about that,' she commented. It"s believed that three full-time staff had been working on the Bog Train and that some part-time workers were also employed during the summer months. Cllr Hannify said she had been told that the closure was due not to the economic downturn but rather because of insurance and health and safety issues. The fact that the train was also being used to transport peat was another factor, she said. A spokesperson for Bord na Mona couldn"t comment on the issue at the time of going to press. It was raised for discussion at a recent meeting of the county council and the four members from the Ferbane area, Cllr Hannify, Cllr Marcella Corcoran-Kennedy, Cllr Eamon Dooley and Cllr Thomas Feighery are now hoping to meet with Bord na Mona to express their concern about the move. 'We would like to impress on them the economic impact of this and the importance of having it open during the next tourist season,' said Cllr Hannify. Recently there had a certain amount of rumour and speculation that Bord na Mona may be preparing a submission relating to a new tourist infrastructure project in the region under the Mid-Shannon Investment Scheme.