Graiguenamanagh/Tinnahinch
Local Area Plan 2020-2026
Submission and observations
As an owner of a business in Graiguenamanagh for the past 22 years I would make the observation that the key to development and prosperity in Graiguenamanagh is inextricably linked to tourism and every action taken should be taken with a view to improving the experience for both residents and visitors to the area.
Our business is tourism focused and we are acutely aware of the rapid increase in daytrippers to Graiguenamanagh in the past three years. Most of these visitors are here to engage in outdoor activities. This has led to severe strain on certain elements of local infrastructure. I look at these issues every day and have tried to analyse what can be done to improve the situation.
1. Almost everyone heading to Graiguenamanagh for river activities is being channelled to the car park at the boathouse area. This car park and the associated boat slip at the rowing club are now completely congested, and the situation is aggravated by the fact that the car park is at the end of a cul de sac and is approached via a narrow and blind corner at the bottom of Barrow Lane.
Several actions could be taken to alleviate the situation here.
a)There is no good reason why all visitors to the town are being channelled to one small point with difficult access. There is plenty of river bank along both sides of the river up and downriver from the bridge. There needs to be separate access points and slipways established at different points and on both sides of the river that will allow the visitors to spread out for parking, launching boats etc.
b)The rowing club steps are busy enough with a very active rowing club, two schools involved in rowing, one company offering guided rowing holidays and also visiting rowing clubs. This is a specialist facility and these rowing boats cannot access or exit the river at any other point. The rowing steps are often a scene of frustration as they can be taken over by swimmers and canoeists and this prevents rowing craft from exiting the river in a safe manner. Therefore a separate dedicated canoe slipway needs to be installed. It would also be preferable if this was a floating slipway that would rise and fall with the river as canoeists can utilise the river at a greater range of river levels than the rowing contingent can.
c) The blind corner at the bottom of Barrow Lane needs to be widened to allow better access to and from the car park. Large vehicles cannot get around this corner and traffic gets backed up as a result. It is a difficult and dangerous blind spot. Ideally this derelict site would be acquired and converted to additional car parking. It is also by far the most favourable site for public toilets which at the moment the council have completely left as the responsibility of one local restaurant and one pub.
d) Now that a dedicated Camper van facility has been provided at the outdoor activity hub at the old pitch and putt site in Graiguenamanagh it is high time camper vans were prohibited from the boathouse car park. Each campervan takes up a minimum of 4 car parking spaces which coupled with the longer wheel base leads to chaos at the boathouse car park in the summer months. The situation would be greatly alleviated if signage was immediately erected prohibiting camper vans from this car park and directing them to the dedicated camper van area or the campsite facility on Brandon Hill.
2. Bus parking and extra car parking areas are urgently required for Graiguenamanagh/Tinnahinch and the most suitable area may be on the Carlow side of the river. The large green area on the Tinnahinch side is in private ownership but it may be possible to acquire some or all of this site for bus and extra car parking screened off from view with suitable hedging. There may also be the possibility of acquiring some of the Glanbia Tinnahinch site for bus parking.
3. Although car parking is at a premium in Graiguenamanagh there is one small spot where the town could be hugely improved by removing a small number of spaces. The area in front of the Market House in the centre of town is a pivotal focal site in presenting the town. This area should be reclaimed as public area and landscaped with paving, flowerbeds and seating. It would hugely improve the aesthetic presentation of the town and highlight the heritage value of the Markethouse.
4. The Duiske Abbey graveyard is surrounded on two sides(Abbey Street and Barrow Lane) by a high blank wall. From observations in other attractive towns in Ireland and across the UK it is obvious that the town would be much improved if this wall was replaced with a low wall and a traditional railing surround which would reveal and provide a very attractive green area and historical centre piece to the town.
5. Duiske Abbey is a key piece of built heritage. But we know from experience that visitors do not even recognise it in passing, even if they are looking for it! At a very minimum a large stone on the pavement at the corner of Main St. and Abby St. simply inscribed with ‘DUISKE ABBEY - established 1204’.
6. There is a blank wall facing Upper Main St. adjacent to the ball court below the Abbey hall. This would also be improved by being replaced with railings, although the feature gate at the centre should be retained. It would help to integrate Abbey Hall with Upper Main St. and bring it to the forefront instead of its current relative isolation from the main business area of the town.
7. There is a small private site beside the Duiske River just below the Bankhouse. This could possibly be acquired as an alternative area for a public toilet if the location at Barrow Lane is not possible as an option. Alternatively it would replace the small number of parking spaces that might be lost at Market Square.
8. A linked walking route could be extended from the Well Lane, over the Clapper Bridge, through Turfmarket, Peg Washingtons Lane and along the Duiske River until the point it merges with the Barrow in the Outdoor Hub area.
9. There are a good many sheds and stone buildings dotted along the back lanes of Graiguenamanagh that could be considered as a location for activity, possibly a cluster of artistic workshops etc.
10. A pedestrian bridge located at the north end of Silaire Wood(furthest end from town) connecting with the towpath on the Carlow side would give a fabulous looped walk of approx 2km.
I would greatly appreciate it if some of the points included here could be taken into account when finalising the plans for Graiguenamanagh Tinnahinch.
Yours sincerely,
Brian Roberts
Waterside Cafe and Guesthouse
The Quay, Graiguenamanagh