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Redeveloping Tullamore Harbour

200-year-old Tullamore Grand Canal Harbour is an important part of Tullamore’s social and industrial heritage, but it’s currently an underutilised gem. Largely walled off from view and ripe for redevelopment, the area has huge potential as a business, housing, hospitality and tourism hub, as well as a recreational hotspot for walkers, boaters and cyclists. 

Picture of Tullamore Grand Canal Harbour

The Tullamore Grand Canal Harbour Masterplan is an ambitious project to revitalise and redevelop this promising area, and has been created by Grafton Architects on behalf of Waterways Ireland and Offaly County Council, with support from the Urban Regeneration & Development Fund. The Plan will open the harbour up to the public once more, reimagining it as a vibrant, thriving waterfront community and commercial hub in the model of other successful redevelopment projects, such as the transformation of Dublin’s Grand Canal Dock.

To facilitate this, Waterways Ireland will relocate our Operational Depot from Tullamore Harbour to a new greenfield location 1 km east of the town. While the use of the harbour as an operational hub dates back to the 1800’s, it has limited navigational, recreational, social and wider economic use of the harbour area. We are delighted to seize the first opportunity in 70 years to return this area to public use, and pave the way for this exciting new development opportunity. 

As custodians of the harbour, Waterways Ireland and Offaly County Council are committed to unlocking the potential of Tullamore Grand Canal Harbour as a place to live, work, visit, relax, and enjoy. The Masterplan sets out a series of future development opportunities to achieve these ambitions, each of which will be subject to a cost-benefit analysis and contingent on achieving the right funding model at the right time. Waterways Ireland and Offaly County Council will work hand in hand with partners across different sectors to achieve the harbour’s phased redevelopment, including the basin, the adjoining Canal Spur Line, and Young’s Store.

The Masterplan underwent public consultation from 11th to 25th July and submitted comments are under consideration by Waterways Ireland and Offaly County Council.  The next project planning phase will be the establishment of a Working Group to prioritise opportunities for development, identify funding opportunities and develop optimal development and operating models.

Waterways Ireland believe the Masterplan’s benefits to the economy, the community and the enrichment of citizen’s lives are manifold, and we’re excited for new life to be breathed into this incredible untapped resource.