The tight-knit community of Killeshin, a couple of miles from Carlow town, enjoys one of the most scenic locations in Laois – and a local group have come together to do huge work to make the most of the stunning local Waterworks facility.
A new walkway around the Killeshin Waterworks was officially opened on Sunday afternoon and is bound to be a great addition for the locals in the area as well as attracting visitors from further afield.
The water on the reservoir glistened in the August sunshine as the the 400m track (which complements the existing loop that is in place there already) was officially opened by Pat Kinsella, whose father was caretaker of the Waterworks for decades and whose family have lived beside the facility for generations.
In addition, Pat’s brother Andy has developed a virtual tourist tracker, which can be scanned on any smart phone from the map at the site.
It is a very useful and informative resource that gives details on the wildlife and history of the location as well as some of the practical aspects like the by-wash, sluice gate and treatment plant.
The Killeshin Waterworks Reservoir Amenity Park extends to over 20 acres and has been under Laois County Council since 2011. It previously supplied water to Carlow Town from the late 1800s up to 1987.
For a while afterwards Laois County Council used the water from Killeshin but has not done so now for some time.
The reservoir area, treatments work houses and surrounding woodland was no longer used as the pipes had reached the limit of their “economic design life”.
But the facility still needed to be maintained and Laois County Council entered into an agreement with Carlow Town Council and land owners to use the lands as an amenity park.
Just a short distance off the main road and close to Killeshin church, there is ample parking on site and new section of the walk, on a newly-constructed pathway through the wooded area, takes you up a nice hill and back around to the car park.
Along the way there are some fine views of the reservoir.
The project, which was under the chairmanship of Oisin Cawley and included committee members Pauric Bolton, Frank Power, Gerry Dunne and Pat Kinsella, received €20,000 grant funding for which they’ve thanked local councillors Ben Brennan, Padraig Fleming and Aisling Moran for their support.
Cllrs Brennan and Fleming were in attendance while local priest Fr Dunphy was also on hand to perform a blessing.
Those in attendance took the opportunity to walk the new route while in true community spirit, there was a selection of teas, coffees, cakes and ice cream served up from the Bolton coffee truck.
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