YOU WOULD have been forgiven for forgetting you were in Enniskillen last weekend, when the town’s waterways were a hub of fun and frolicking in the Mediterranean style-sunshine.
The new Enniskillen Blueway water activity zone was officially launched by Waterways Ireland at on Sunday, much to the delight of the families and visitors who availed of all that was on offer for the open day.
Located beside the Erneside footbridge, the zone include canoeing, kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding. The ‘wee red boats’ from Erne Boat Hire are still there too, and the Erne Water Taxi will be relocating the town centre hub.
Shane Browne, digital and communications officer at Waterways Ireland said the new activity zone was, in keeping with the overall ethos of the Blueway project, aimed at getting more people out on the water.
“There’s the people who want to engage in excitement and adventure, but there are also the people who want to relax. It’s the best of both worlds, especially on Lough Erne as you have those options,” he said.
Director of business development at Waterways Ireland, John Boyle, said it was all about making best use of our greatest asset, the Lough Erne water system, and providing activities to interest everyone of all ages and abilities.
For example, as part of the new activity zone, there will also be a new heritage boat tour taking in the history of Enniskillen, from it monastic heritage to more recent stories.
“Enniskillen is unique as the only island town in the whole island of Ireland, and we don’t really make use of that as a unique selling point for Fermanagh,” said Mr Boyle. “The history that is involved with that island town, from the Maguires and well before it, there’s a great story to be told.”
Like all the activities provided at the zone, the heritage tour is being provided by the private sector. Mr Boyle said the Blueway project was about bringing the private sector, the public sector and the community sector together.
“Create the destination, and the economy will grow,” he said, adding local traders were coming on board with help from Enniskillen BID.
Next up for the Blueway project is a planned paddling trail from Bellanaleck to Trory, expected to opened later in the year, with plans also afoot to create more activity zone type locations around the county.
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