Two Offaly tourism projects open in €1m spend
By Rebekah O'Reilly
Two major tourism projects were officially opened in Offaly yesterday (Thursday) by Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke.
The redeveloped Banagher Open Water Pool and a floating jetty at Shannonbridge Marina, were delivered through Fáilte Ireland’s Regenerative Tourism and Placemaking Scheme, which is co funded by the Government of Ireland and the EU through the EU Just Transition Fund.
Banagher Open Water Pool, which was delivered by the Shannon Bank Park Trustees Community Group in partnership with Fáilte Ireland, provides a year-round open-water swimming amenity for the local community and visitors alike.
The project received €616,700 in funding through Fáilte Ireland’s Investment Grant-Aid Scheme for Private and Community SMEs.
The local community in Banagher raised €156,000, in match funding, reflecting strong local commitment to the redevelopment.
Central to the project is a new 25-metre floating open-water swimming pool, designed to adapt to fluctuating river levels and improve access for swimmers of all ages and abilities.
The facility also includes a dedicated children’s area, a safe access zone, a canoe launch area and a recreational seating area with sheltered pods on the pontoon.
The newly enhanced amenity strengthens Banagher’s reputation as a destination for outdoor recreation and water-based tourism along the River Shannon for both domestic and international visitors.
Johnny Butler, Chairperson of the Shannon Bank Park Development group: "We raised over €150,000 for the pool, and we did that through community fundraisers, we wanted to raise money, but we also wanted people to create memories that would last a lifetime.
"The facility is here, it’s free, and it’s for everyone. We’re hoping more and more people will come and make the most of it. The entire pool is fully accessible. No matter what disability someone has, we can help them get safely in and out.
“There’s a ramp and a lift, so it really is designed for everyone. We do welcome donations, but that’s not what it’s about, it’s about providing something for the community.
The pool was designed and manufactured locally by Banagher Precast which is just across the river, and the technology developed here has even been exported as far as Australia.
"When we started fundraising, we didn’t know how we were going to do it, but the community got behind us, and we made it happen. People were incredibly generous. They believed in it and saw it as something for future generations.
“We’re lucky to live beside the river, and this gives everyone safe access to it, which is very rare.
“You’ll find people here from six in the morning. It’s clean, it’s safe, and it’s created a real sense of community. It’s not just for Banagher, it’s for everyone.”
The new floating jetty at Shannonbridge Marina, developed by Waterways Ireland in partnership with Fáilte Ireland was also opened on the day. The new infrastructure increases mooring capacity while enhancing accessibility and safety for recreational water-based activities along the River Shannon.
Waterways Ireland was awarded €150,000 in funding through Fáilte Ireland’s Investment Grant-Aid Scheme for Strategic Partners. Waterways Ireland invested a further €160,000 in funding for this project.
The development centres on a new floating jetty with guide piles, providing 12 additional berths alongside dedicated access for canoe and kayak users. Enhanced safety and accessibility features include new pathways and access ramps, navigation markers, improved lighting, safety ladders and life rings, creating a safer and more inclusive experience for both the local community and visitors.
Improved access and increased mooring capacity at Shannonbridge will encourage more visitors to explore the wider region via the River Shannon, giving them more reasons to stay longer while driving footfall for local businesses and communities.
Speaking at the official opening, Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke TD said: “I’m pleased to officially open these two important regenerative tourism projects along the River Shannon. The redevelopment of Banagher Open Water Pool and the new floating jetty at Shannonbridge are excellent examples of how targeted investment through the EU Just Transition Fund and Fáilte Ireland’s Regenerative Tourism and Placemaking Scheme is delivering real, tangible benefits for communities across the midlands.
CEO of Fáilte Ireland, Caroline Bocquel said: “The opening of these two significant projects clearly demonstrates the transformative impact that Fáilte Ireland’s Regenerative Tourism and Placemaking Scheme and the EU Just Transition Fund are having across the midlands.
"This investment of over €1 million across both regenerative tourism initiatives helps to maximise one of Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands’ key natural assets, the River Shannon.
"By improving quality of life for residents and enhancing the visitor experience, projects like these contribute not only to regenerative tourism, but also to wider economic and social transformation, supporting local enterprise, encouraging investment and delivering long‑term benefits for communities across the Midlands.”