I’m lucky enough to live along a very scenic road in Co. Leitrim. The road runs along the canal that connects the lock at Battlebridge to the lock at Drumleague, which is the last lock before Acres Lake and Lough Allen itself. Every cruiser that comes to Lough Allen passes through this canal.

The road also forms part of what is known as the Kingfisher Cycle Trail, a planned cycle route through the North West region. The name is particular apt for the canal, which has always been home to kingfishers. In recognition of this and its general scenic value, the road and the canal are classified as areas of Visual Amenity in the Leitrim County Development Plan.

The road is pictured on the Kingfisher Cycle Trail website:

and described thus:

“We pass through Leitrim village and turn right onto the narrow road skirting the canal at Battlebridge. It is flat, tranquil and leafy along a stretch of water that invites closer scrutiny. Tiny birds dart over the water and disappear again. Larger varieties hoot and caw. With a bit of luck and patience you might even spot a kingfisher, always recognisable by its colourful plumage.”

I’ve also taken some photos of my own over the years:

In summer….

and in winter.

It is therefore unfortunate that the maintenance of this road and canal are the responsibility of Waterway Ireland, whose record in relation to environmental protect is questionable at best.
The pictures shown below were taken over the last week, and show what Waterways Ireland describe as ‘maintenance’.

The entire canal bank was bulldozed, destroying the very hedgerows in which the Kingfishers nested. Waterways Ireland also dredged all of the drains along the canal, destroying the spawning grounds of the thousands of frogs who appear along the lane every summer.
I contacted the National Parks and Wildlife Service about this but to no avail. Waterways Ireland are allowed carry out maintenance on their land, and they can remove hedgerows during the winter months.

This is yet another example of how little significance is attached to visual amenity in Co. Leitrim. The damage inflicted on this area by Waterways Ireland could take a decade to grow out, and then only if they don’t come back and do the same thing again in a couple of years.

Hopefully, some sort of statutory protection can be afforded to the area in the interim.

View more at www.waterwaysofireland.com

Garreth