Campaign for new boathouse gathers steam

Drogheda Independent - Friday January 10th 2003

DROGHEDA’S Mayor Malachy Godfrey is spearheading a move to locate a new boathouse and slipway for the Boyne Fishermen’s Rescue and Recovery Service (BFRRS) with a section of Donor’s Green being mooted as a possible site.

Mindful of the invaluable service being provided by the BFRRS to the people of Drogheda and surrounding areas the Mayor is anxious that the group be provided with proper facilities.

‘The Drogheda River Rescue Service who also do great work have their facilities and slipway down at Horselane off Trinity Street and the BFRRS need to have access to the river and also a place to store their boats and equipment as well as somewhere to change,’ he said.

The Mayor said that the past three months have sadly been particularly busy for the two river rescue groups in the town and he paid tribute to the volunteers who go out on the river searching for missing people.

‘I don’t think these people can ever be repaid for what they do but the very least we as a Borough Council can do is give them proper facilities to enable them to continue to carry out their great work,’ he said.

The Mayor met with the BFRRS during the week and they identified to him a piece of land on Donor’s Green which they think would be ideal for the boat house and slipway.

‘I have now brought this to the attention of the Town Clerk Des Foley and he is trying to identify if it is the council or the Port Authorities who own the piece of land in question.’

‘The Boyne Fishermen have told me that if they can secure the land they will acquire the necessary money to fund the boathouse and slipway.

‘At the moment the fishermen have to keep their equipment at their homes which is really not the ideal scenario. They also have to get changed outside or in their cars,’ he said.

Meanwhile the Mayor has also been assured by the Town Clerk that life buoys will be located at the new Haymarket bridge while he has made representations to Mr Foley that all the lifebuoys that have been damaged or disappeared along other parts of the river will be replaced.

‘In light of the number of people who have gone into the river in the past number of months I think lifebuoys must be a priority. I would appeal to people not to mess with the buoys and to leave them in place so that they can be used in times of emergency.’

‘Who knows some day it might be needed for themselves or a member of their family,’ he warned.

‘As Mayor of Drogheda I’m very proud of the work that the two river rescue groups in the town do. Some of them were out on Christmas Day, who else would do it? he asked.

© Drogheda Independent