New Shannon moorings will be free of charge

Photo: New moorings in Athlone.

New moorings installed by Waterways Ireland between the new Athlone Boat Club Development under construction and the White Bridge will be free of charge, it's been confirmed.

A spokesperson said they have undertaken work recently in Athlone to remove derelict boats and old access platforms and install 72 metres of mooring jetty on the western bank of the Shannon, north of the town bridge.

The jetty has berths catering for eight to nine large boats and six small boats and can be accessed from the bank.

“Demand is high for recreational mooring in Athlone, and this new jetty recognises that fact. The five day rule will apply and there will be no charge,” a spokesperson for Waterways Ireland told the Westmeath Independent this week.

While this development will undoubtedly be welcomed by the tourism sector given how busy Athlone Marina can be at peak times, it does call into question whether the latter will suffer given there is no charge for new moorings.

A charge applies per night for the Athlone Marina which is secure and boasts facilities like showers, toilets, bins, and pumping out facilities. It is run by Westmeath County Council.

While the local authority said it is unable to give exact figures for the numbers for Athlone Marina in 2020, a spokesperson said based on income received there was approximately a 25% reduction in the use of the marina facilities compared with the previous years.

The spring and early summer periods were very quiet for boating given the first lockdown was in force, however, it did pick up hugely in mid to late summer with more Irish tourists than usual using the waterways for staycation cruising breaks.