THE BUILDING of a new craft centre in Ireland will lead to the preservation of a traditional woodworking skill. Alison Alderton reports…
Pat Loftus Construction has been officially appointed by Waterways Ireland (WI) to develop a new Craft Centre of Excellence to replace the Tullamore Harbour depot which has been a regional base for the navigational authority for the last 60-plus years.
The development of the Craft Centre of Excellence will safeguard the centuries-old tradition of lock-gate crafting, and the production of associated bespoke heritage fittings, in Tullamore, Co Offaly. Using Ekki timber imported from Africa, every lock gate is individually crafted by specialist carpenters to the exacting specifications required to ensure the smooth operation of 120 locks across 420km of navigation along the Grand Canal, Royal Canal and Barrow Line.
Mechanical teams will continue to maintain fleets of boats, dredgers, weed-cutters, diggers, vans, lorries and other specialist equipment at the new location. Teams based at Tullamore also manage the development and maintenance of the Grand Canal Greenway from Shannon Harbour in Co Offaly, to Lowtown in Co Kildare. Thus, Tullamore will continue to play a vital role in fulfilling Waterways Ireland’s remit as custodians of the waterways for many years to come.
The new Craft Centre of Excellence, located 1km east of Tullamore, is expected to be operational by June 2026, at which time the harbour site in Tullamore town centre will be vacated. During the construction phase, it is anticipated that the works will support 20-30 jobs in the region.
The Craft Centre of Excellence will serve as base for up to 70 staff across several departments of Waterways Ireland, including operations, the inspectorate, mechanical and electrical team and finance. The project will see the construction of carpentry and mechanical craft workshops, an administrative building, and supporting amenities including yard areas, hardstanding and a waste-water treatment unit.
Speaking at the signing of contracts for construction of the Craft Centre of Excellence, John McDonagh, WI CEO, stated: “The signing of contracts for the development of the Craft Centre of Excellence is a welcome and significant milestone for Waterways Ireland and for the region. It will ensure the continuation of a great tradition of waterways craftsmanship in Tullamore. At Waterways Ireland we have responsibility for the maintenance and development of more than 1100km of inland waterways and 650km of paths and cycleways. This new Craft Centre of Excellence will provide our teams with modern premises and future-proof Waterways Ireland’s capacity to develop recreational and tourism amenities for locals and visitors alike across the region.”
Speaking for Pat Loftus Construction, managing director Patrick Loftus said: “We look forward to working with Waterways Ireland and the project design team in the delivery of this new facility. We are excited to apply our team’s expertise to construct what promises to be a modern and impressive base for Waterways Ireland future operations in Tullamore.”
