Welcome for funding announcement for new Blueway access in Newcastle village – McGrath, Lonergan and Molloy

Independent representatives Deputy Mattie McGrath, Mayor Cllr. Richie Molloy and Deputy Mayor Cllr. Martin Lonergan have warmly welcomed the announcement by Minister of State for Community and Rural Development, Michael Ring TD that a further allocation of €156,000 will be allocated towards the River Suir Blueway Canoe Trail which will hopefully directly link Newcastle Village into this important and significant tourism and recreational amenity.

Commenting on the announcement Deputy McGrath stated, “The 2018 Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) provides funding for the development and maintenance of outdoor amenities such as greenways, blueways and other trails. Under the 2018 scheme, applications were invited under three measures and now under  Measure 2 – Medium scale repair/upgrade and development of new small/medium infrastructure (up to €200,000 grant) I am delighted to welcome this funding towards an access point near Newcastle Village.

78 projects to the value of €10.87 million under Measure 2 have now been announced. In total, 97 applications amounting to just over €13.2 million were received in respect of Measure 2. I also want to acknowledge Fáilte Ireland who are co-funding this Measure with the Department to the tune of €3 million euro. I have no doubt that this funding will greatly enhance the Blueway experience and bring Newcastle Village into the heart of that experience, in terms of culture, history and the betterment of the local community.”

Deputy Mayor of Clonmel/Cahir Borough District, Cllr Martin Lonergan added, “As a local authority representative for the area, I am delighted to welcome this announcement. I have always stated that as part of the Blueway Project, the accessibility of all communities along the River Suir was of the utmost of importance, especially Newcastle and Ardfinnan along with other communities along the banks of the Suir. We can now see that from Cahir Town to Carrick on Suir, most Communities will have an access and egress area from the River Suir which will; I would hope, greatly increase activities on the Suir and indeed bring extra footfall into our local communities along the route from Cahir to Ardfinnan, Newcastle, Clonmel and Kilsheelan. I want to thank everyone involved in continuing to develop this important amenity within the Local Authority, both former and current and I have no doubt it will continue to be a major asset to the Borough District.”   

The Mayor of Clonmel/Cahir Borough District, Cllr. Richie Molloy said, “We are now moving into a new era in rebuilding our relationship with the River Suir following the implementation of the Flood Relief Plan in areas such as Cahir, Ardfinnan, Newcastle and Clonmel. Projects that the Local Authority has embarked upon signal a new confidence towards accessibility to the River Suir and the promotion of recreational use of this natural and beautiful amenity. This further funding will promote usage of the river and this has always been the main objective. For a relatively small investment it will bring so much value to the towns and villages involved in the years to come.”