Council and river chiefs meet on Shannon Erne extension

Chief Executive at Cavan County Council Eoin Doyle met with his Waterways Ireland counterpart John McDonagh recently to discuss the opportunities that exist within the recently launched Destination & Experience Development Plan (DEDP) for the Upper Shannon, Shannon-Erne, and Border area.

He spoke with the Waterways CEO about “ways to advance” various projects that may fall within the remit of the plan, one of which is extending the navigation of the River Shannon to Dowra.

The proposal is in line with the water body’s existing strategic initiatives, as outlined in its Shannon Tourism Masterplan, which actively looks at measures to further enhance Lough Allen and the surrounding communities.

The update was provided by Director of Services Brendan Jennings to elected members in the Cavan-Belturbet Municipal District at their meeting in Ballyconnell last week.

Over a decade ago, plans were being advanced to extend the navigation on the river Shannon between Lough Allen and Annagh Upper near Dowra. Permission, however, for a 16-berth marina, granted by Leitrim County Council, was overturned on appeal to ABP.

In recent years, and within Cavan County Council, there has been a push to try and ignite interest in the proposal, particularly with €10M being spent on the Shannon Pot Discovery Centre and plans to extend facilities at the popular Burren Park.

The entire project will fit in with the wider Cuilcagh Lakelands UNESCO Global Geopark.

The DEDP, meanwhile, is a five-year tourism development plan for Cavan, Leitrim and north Roscommon, as part of the development of the Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands region.

Launched in January 2025, an implementation group has been formed to oversee its execution.