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Archive for ‘January, 2018’
Barrow Cycle Continued January 2018
It was good to attend a packed public meeting this evening in the Abbey Hall, Graiguenamanagh held by the local ‘Save the Barrow Line’ Committee to update people on the proposal to create the Barrow Blueway. There were hundreds in attendance and all of them opposed to the development as proposed.
Seeing photographs of the damage done by WWI as part of their maintenance programme has to be a cause of concern. The Track will be destroyed if the hardcore surface is laid.
Amazing to hear that WWI cannot locate any otters or kingfishers along the river! There are plenty of otters close to Carlow Town, I have often seen them between the Lerr and Griese section – in fact an otter crossed our path one night and almost knocked us off our bikes! There are also common sightings below Mickey Websters Lock down as far the the Woodford Dolmen Hotel. I suppose the name of the old house on the Kilkenny road opposite the Vocational School kinda gives it away as it has long been called ‘Otterholt’!
I had a short cycle between Clashganny and Graiguenamanagh before going to the meeting where sections of the Canal were over flowing (WWI claim the canals never flood). Any unbound surface will end up in the river leaving potholes like I showed down at St Miullins on my last video. Grass is the only method to keep the canal bank in tact; it knits the soil together and forms a permeable barrier that allows water to drain away…. save it don’t pave it…
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Bringing Old Railway Lines to Life
Old railway lines find a new use – why can’t the Bagenalstown – Pallas East line not do likewise?
One of the biggest innovations in Irish tourism in recent times has been the creation of the Greenways along disused railway lines. They have worked in Mayo, Westmeath and Waterford bringing serious economic benefit to these areas.
That is the reason and the logic supporters of the proposed Blueway along the River Barrow advance in supporting the development. It is a compelling argument when you see the success of the Greenways elsewhere. Yet this planning application has seen the highest ever number of planning objections lodged with Carlow County Council. Hundreds of people have attended public meetings in opposition to the development.
How can a project with such potential be a source of so much concern? I imagine everybody living along the Barrow corridor would favour a stronger local economy with the potential for more jobs and prosperity but instead they are mobilised and agitating against this proposal.
In his brilliant book, ‘The Wisdom of Crowds” James Surowiecki espoused the theory of collective wisdom and that it should not be dismissed too easily. I feel the same principle should apply in the decision of the planners in this case. It should not be swayed by the body of experts who have been employed to promote this project. Local knowledge must be central to the decision making process.
One question that has to be asked is why has the old disused railway between Bagenalstown and Pallas East not been considered for development as a Greenway just as the aforementioned railway lines in other parts of the country? It could link up with the Waterford Greenway as part of a national route just as the Blueway is to be part of that trail infrastructure.
One of my concerns is that our public representatives do not understand the disastrous consequences should this proposed development fail and they have not familiarised themselves sufficiently with the differences between the proposed Blueway and the Greenways around the country. They are like chalk and cheese.
Lets assume the proposal gets the go ahead.
The grass bank will be removed.
Trees and hedging will be removed.
A hard grit like surface will I understand be installed.
The Barrow will continue to flood on multiple occasions annually.
Will we now have 140kms of this potholed surface instead of a grassy bank:
If my fears are misplaced and Waterways Ireland can provide a trail that meets all our needs then of course it would be an amazing route. Unfortunately they have not yet, as far as I know, provided detail on how this surface will be maintained in the future. users of the Barrow Track are all too well aware that WWI struggle to fund the maintenance of the current surface – surely this will be an even bigger cost?
Constant flooding washes away these grit surfaces – causing pollution problems in the River itself.. and with climate change the extent of the flooding has been getting worse and will get even more challenging in decades ahead…
Barrow in Flood
Barrow in Flood
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Birds , Bikes and Balls!
Normally I take the bike out to enjoy nature at its best around County Carlow but last week the birds came to the bike!
Note the ball with special markings – an innovative coaching aid from a Castledermot man!
Could replay this over and over!!
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All Roads Lead to Rome
The three great pilgrimage routes in Christendom are Santiago de Compostella, Rome and Jerusalem. In 2010 myself and Ronan set out from Canterbury on the ancient Via Francigena, crossing south east England, France, Switzerland and Italy on our bikes, edging ever closer to the Eternal City.
Just discovered my old video files tonight!
The culmination fo that great pilgrimage was arriving into St Peters on our bikes!
Ronan is in Dubai now but there’s is no way I’m joining him to cycle to Mecca!
