'Gamechanger' for Laois 'gem' with no pubs or school

Ireland's waterways agency believes the new Barrow Blueway could be bring lots of visitors to Vicarstown which an official believes is a 'a gem' but a Laois TD believes more must be delivered to a village that attracts tourists to Laois but has no pubs.

The village's potential was raised recently in the Dáil with Waterways Ireland by Laois TD Brian Stanley at the Public Accounts Committee.

The TD said the midlands does not do well on funding for tourism but has visitor attractions including Vicarstown which he said has much more potential to generate employment and money locally.

"Improving Waterway Ireland’s asset there would be a win-win situation but it needs something to kick start it and that has not been forthcoming," he said.

Dep Stanley said that while it is a 'fantastic' area, the village has lost elements that would attract visitors.

"It is a lovely village. There were two pubs in it. The pubs are gone. The school is gone. There is nothing," he said.

He wanted to know what plans Waterways Ireland has for the village.

"It would be great if the village could be brought back to life and the facilities used better. Are there plans for any physical developments at Vicarstown?" he said.

Éanna Rowe is the operations controller with Waterways Ireland. He replied to the Sinn Féin TD.

"Any plans we would have would take the navigation of the entire Barrow line (of Grand Canal) into consideration. That is our intention under the proposed masterplan for the Barrow. Vicarstown is a gem. There is no doubt about it. It has supported that café but also a very small barge operator and it continues to support that barge operation. From our perspective, it is one of those destinations we would like to see developed along the Barrow line and the Barrow navigation," he said.

Dep Stanley pushed the official for more. READ ON BELOW PICTURE.

Pictured: Bike week in Vicarstown.

"I can say the Barrow Blueway is almost complete - we have a couple of road crossings to complete this year with the local authorities - and that could be a game-changer for Vicarstown. We would hope then that we would be developing destinations along the navigation, not only along the Barrow but also along the Grand Canal from Shannon Harbour and to try to attract some of those 9,000 boats that we have on the Shannon to visit the wonderful canals too," said Rowe.

The Barrow Blueway involves the development of a 46km stretch along the Grand Canal Barrow Line in Kildare and Laois. The Blueway promises to be an amenity for local communities and visitors.