Laois town river 'reimagined' from a flood risk into eco attraction

A Laois architect has come up with clever ways to turn a local river from a flood risk to a natural attraction, and revitalise the town it flows through.

Joseph Mackey from Abbeyleix has his practice Joseph Mackey Architects at the BloomHQ business and community hub in Mountrath.

His pitch for Reimagine Mountrath won one of three annual €10,000 Irish Architecture Foundation's Reimagine burseries.

The results of his plans are now on display in BloomHQ for the community to see, and they are getting warm feedback.

Like many Irish towns, Mountrath is built on a river that brings increased floods due to climate change, land drainage and development built on its natural flood plains. 

The Whitehorse flows down directly from the Slieve Bloom mountains, often bringing a deluge to the town after heavy rains. In the 17th century it served as a delivery route for Mountrath's industrial products. It was also an amenity for locals to swim, fish, boat and play.

It has Special Area of Conservation (SAC) status because it feeds the Nore, home to a unique form of the endangered Freshwater Pearl Mussel, Ireland's longest living animal.

The Whitehorse has flooded parts of the town in the recent past, affecting the girls' primary school, the playground and homes on Shannon Street.

Joseph explained the innovative ideas that he and his staff imagined, hoping to solve that flood risk while creating an amenity.

"The Town Team and the Laois County Council Regeneration Officer Denise Rainey asked me to submit a proposal to the IAF for a piece of research. I was delighted to be asked. 

"We started public consultation last February including a meet and greet here in the chapel in BloomHQ, hearing  ideas from individuals and groups including scouts, the drama group and Tidy Towns. Our discussion was always around the river. People shared their special memories, worries and opportunities," he said.

The team then made a series of drawings, chiefly a 'birds eye view' line drawing of the town with their ideas in cyan.

"There is a stone wall on the bridge, you can't see the water. Historically it had a railing, if you can't see it, you can't value it so we propose to drop it the whole way on both sides.

"There was a market hall in the square, so we created a civic space like a new town hall or market area, on the footprint of the 'roundabout'. It would reinforce the street flow. 

"There is still a laneway leading to the river so we propose new pavillions along it with seating.

"We asked ourselves what would the river want, almost like a client. It wants to swell, to break its banks. We can see that flooding is a big issue," Joseph said.

A key design is to lower the level of a parish owned field beside the river to allow a safe space for flood water, with a raised bank to keep silt from reentering the river. The team consulted with hydrology experts from the Nore Vision project.

"The field is a natural depression and it would make a wonderful wetland. It would bring back native flora and fauna and invertibrates and then water birds. The beauty is the wetland would act as a sponge. It naturally would have flooded but the land was raised.

"Our solution is subtle and natural, with a raised boardwalk and seats, and canoe storage and a tea room area. it could connect visitors to Castletown and the Slieve Blooms. 

"This could go hand in hand with Laois County Council's flood alleviation plans," the architect said. 

"It might not go ahead for a long time but I hope we've planted the seed. We're just dreaming about what it could be. Our role is to suggest ideas, create debate and that might drive opportunities," Joseph Mackey said.

Locals gave their reaction to the Leinster Express / Laois Live.

John Duffy and his son Rossa O'Dufaigh, architectural student were among the visitors.

"It's very interesting, it would be wonderful if it ever came to fruition. Mountrath is such a great town, it's buzzing with great shops and shopfronts," John said.

"If it works out it will attract a lot of local visitors and be good for community spirit. It's suiting the town, making the most of its natural resources, it would be nice to see it go ahead," Rossa said.

John Duffy and son Rossa O'Dufaigh in BloomHQ. Photo: Leinster Express

Michael Osborne said he learned to fish in the river in town.

"Years back there were summercamps and boats on the river as part of that, we would canoe from the playground to the hurling field.

"It was a nightmare years ago, it would flood out from St Brigid's school to the hurling field, the whole park would flood. There's an underground stream under Shannon Street I can remember sitting on the back of an old fire jeep and in a boat, getting rescued. The last time it flooded here it rose so quickly we had to shimmy out along the wall," he said.

Michael Osborne viewing the Reimagine Mountrath plans.

Martin Meade is chair of Mountrath Community Forum.

"This is intended to showcase Mountrath and its potential, really shine a light on it, and bring Mountrath to a level where it is a nice place to live in and visit and do business. We are designing it for its future. 

"We are looking at providing more housing for our elderly as well, and creating a motorhome serviced aire beside the river. Our focus is on business too, we are seeing a huge turnaround on vacant shops, about 10 are coming back into use next year with the help of Laois County Council as we approach owners directly," Mr Meade said.

Reimagine Mountrath will be on display in Laois County Council foyer for the first week of December, and in Mountrath Library for the following week. It will be archived for permanent accessibility on www.josephmackey.ie