The Inland Waterways
A catalyst for the regeneration of
Cities, Towns and Rural areas
4th May 2017
Waterways Ireland's
Statutory Function
Manage, Maintain, Develop and Promote
the Inland Navigable Waterways principally
for Recreational Purposes
2
1,000 KM OF WATERWAY
420 KM OF TOWPATH
SEVEN NAVIGATIONS
175 LOCKS & CHAMBERS
360 BRIDGES
1,200 HERITAGE STRUCTURES
13,900 M OF MOORINGS
3
Waterways Ireland's
Proposition
• Demonstrate the potential of the Inland
Waterways to successfully regenerate
cities, towns and villages
• Consider how such investments could
transform your region
• Encourage Leader Groups &
communities to embrace inland
waterway regeneration opportunities
Total: €405m
Changing Trends
• Changes visitor behaviour - Experiential
Tourism – "people don't take trips, trips
take people"
John Steinbeck
• Changes in our customer base Combining non-motorised, general
users of the waterways; Walking,
Cycling, Jogging, Canoeing, Picnic...
equates to 80% of users
Demand for Outdoor Recreation
Activity Tourism is Big Business
“Core Potential” = taken
activity holiday in last 2
years and would consider
taking a holiday in Ireland in
next 3 years
Strong Potential interest
within the
key markets:
•Walking – 34 mill
•Cycling – 20 mill
•Watersports – 17 mill
Economic and Social Context
+1 Million Overseas Visitors engaged in Activity Tourism
in Ireland including Walking, Cycling & Water-based
Source: Failte Ireland,
(National Tourism
Development
Authority for Ireland)
Cycling and Activities
Research 2013
Estimated Value in excess of €1 Billion
Blueways
A Blueway is a network of approved and
branded multi-activity recreational trails and
sites, based on, or closely linked with the
water, together with providers facilitating
access to activities and experiences
What is a Blueway?
•
More than just a Canoe Trail – Multi-Activity!!
•
Network of Linear Trails On / Adjacent
to the waterways
•
Easy to participate, broad appeal;
Soft Adventure, Family Fun, Safe, Nature
•
Resonance for Connected Families and Footloose Socialisers
Tourism Sectors
•
A recreational resource for both
Local Community and International Visitors
•
Broad appeal across a wide range of users
•
An "animated experience based" activity which integrates the
private sector, community sector, public and voluntary sectors of
local communities
Supports local Enterprise and Employment
in the Tourism and Recreation sectors
Blueway Development - How?
• Infrastructural Provision
Developing upon existing Navigation Assets to
create Outdoor Recreation facilities
• Partnership Working
Collective delivery of Products
and Marketing of a strong Tourism Proposition at
Regional and National & Local Levels.
Bringing It All To Life...
The Shannon Blueway – How?
CREATING EXPERIENCES
Creation of Consumer-Centric Blueways products
“Bite sized” ½ day or full day Visitor Experiences
Animating those
experiences and
fulfilling visitor
expectations
Where can I stay?
Where can I hire?
Where can I eat?
What else can I
do in the area?
The Shannon Blueway – How?
BRANDING
Icons with
symbols &
colours to
represent
activities
Paddle
Walk
Cycle
MARKETING CAMPAIGN
Adverts, Editorials,
Features, Radio, TV
...even the backs
of buses!
Potential to grow existing Businesses /
attract new entrepreneurs
The Shannon Blueway
1. Drumshanbo to Carrick
(completed)
2. Leitrim Village to
Belturbet (completed)
3. Carrick to Boyle (to be
completed 2017)
4. Carrick to Lanesborough
(to be completed 2017)
5. Lough Derg Blueway (in
progress)
The Shannon Blueway – The Future
Expansion of
the Brand For
Other Activities
•Food
•Snorkelling
•Heritage
•Arts
•Music
How our Assets can support
Rural Regeneration
• Stimulate new business start ups
• Provide commercial space for
recreational and tourism services
• Heritage experiences
• Education programmes
• Biodiversity/environmental
programmes
• Children's Wild and Alive recreational
spaces
• Outdoor Arts space
Redevelopment of disused
Property Assets
Collectors House and shed at
Longwood Harbour, Co Meath now
used by Ribbontail Paddlers Canoe Club
Webster's lockhouse at Carlow
now sublet to Carlow Sub-Aqua
Club, funded by Leader
6th Lockhouse, at Phibsborough
Royal Canal, being redeveloped by
Cabra for Youth to store canoes
Properties that could be
developed with communities
• Barrow Line and Navigation = 6
(e.g. Lockhouses at Upper Tinnahinch and
Clashganny, Co Carlow)
• Grand Canal = 6
(e.g. Young's Store, Tullamore, Co Offaly)
• Royal Canal = 8 (e.g. Lough Owel Sluice
House, Co Westmeath)
• Shannon Navigation = 5
(e.g. Lockhouses at Cloondara, Co Longford
and Battlebridge, Co Leitrim)
Aspirations to develop an
Ancient Spiritual Trail
• Inland waterways were once a great
highway for pilgrims in Ireland
• Island monasteries important ports of
call
• Amazing Monastic settlements located
throughout the waterways
• An ancient spiritual route exits from
the Shannon Navigation to Lough Erne
and beyond to Lough Derg in Co
Donegal
Camino de Santiago
Is also a business opportunity
Trails supported by detailed guidebooks:
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•
•
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•
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History of the pilgrimage
Places of pilgrim interest
Where to stay
Where to eat
Where to enjoy local arts, heritage & culture
Where to get pilgrim stamp
Contacts for service providers – tour guides,
bicycle hire, etc.
Work involved in establishing
an Ancient Spiritual Trail
• Identification of sites
• Update status of sites – ownership, condition,
accessibility, etc.
• Identify the 'stories' of each site – is there a
unique story or experience which can be relayed?
• Determine infrastructural requirements
• Determine how the sites can be 'brought to life' –
signage, interpretation, access, role of volunteers,
etc.
• Determine links with other trails in Europe
• Examine how the Spiritual Trail can be marketed
• Funding
Thank You for listening.
Caroline McCarroll
Head of Strategy & Policy
[email protected]
Tel. 048 66346252