Athy 'a graveyard of boats'
There is an issue with derelict boats near Crom-a-Boo Bridge
The issue of derelict boats being left on the River Barrow at a central location in Athy bas been raised recently.
At the most recent meeting of Athy Municipal District, cllr Aoife Breslin asked Kildare County Council to engage with relevant stakeholders to have derelict boats removed from the left bank of the river.
Cllr Breslin’s Labour Party colleague cllr Mark Leigh seconded the motion.
Senior executive officer for strategic projects and public realm Pamela Pender issued the council’s response, which stated that the council has contacted Waterways Ireland. The latter confirmed that they are aware of two sunken boats near Crom a Boo Bridge.
The report further detailed that the area at the bridge is outside Waterways Ireland’s responsibility and that they can only remove boats with the owner’s permission.
One of the boats is to be removed after the Barrow branch of Inland Waterways Association of Ireland sought assistance from Waterways Ireland to remove it, with the owner’s permission.
According to cllr Breslin – who further detailed the nature of the problem whilst speaking at the meeting - people are coming to Athy with their boats because there are no mooring fees and then leaving them there.
She said that the town has become the “graveyard of boats”.
The councillor added that the river running through the town centre “looks horrific” and – whilst emphasising her point about the work needed in Athy - mentioned a recent article in a national newspaper that highlighted issues in the town.
