Longford County Council replaces vandalised life buoy one year after the damage was done

After 12 months of missing life safety devices on the Longford spur of the Royal Canal, Longford County Council have replaced one of the vandalised lifebuoys.

The water safety devices are located on the first 1.5km of the Royal Canal between the starting point behind the old Greyhound track to just beyond Farranyoogan Bridge.

The watercourse is home to a considerable number of ducks, moorhens, butterflies and dragon flies.

Back in 2014 Longford County Council upgraded the canal path on both sides with a smooth tarmac surface and lighting from the start as far as Churchlands Bridge, a distance of nearly 3km.

PICTURES | Excellent BYT panto ‘Alex in Wonderland’ is a big hit with Longford audiences

The vandalism trend has seen lifebuoys thrown away and even burned.

In January, 2024 a walker Reynolds noticed the vandalised lifebuoy ring on the Royal Canal.

Last September he contacted Waterways Ireland, Longford County Council and watersafety.ie, however further efforts to follow up on the matter received no reply.

Two weeks ago, the ‘Longford Leader’ contacted the local authority, Waterways Ireland, and watersafety.ie about the issue.

Last week the local authority responded: “Longford County Council can confirm that the ring buoy, together with the housing unit, has been replaced on the Royal Canal spur.”

The walker who brought the story to our attention welcomed the news, but said only one of the devices has been restored: “They replaced one of the lifebuoys and the burned stand, however the second lifebuoy is still missing,” he said.

Also Read: Firearms and ammunition seized after driver fails roadside drugs test at routine checkpoint

The avid walker gave a pictorial timeline of the missing flotation instrument: “The first photograph is from January 5, 2024. It shows the stand missing the ring, it's burned and vandalised.

“In September I decided to do something about it, so I reported it to Longford County Council, Waterways Ireland, watersafety.ie. I got acknowledgements of my emails back and that was all,” he said.

He says having the safety feature in place is essential: “It's recognised as a life safety device. People have to use that to walk to work, walk to school, walk to the train station.

“It's right beside Prospect Woods and Slashers, there are kids walking up and down all the time.”

Also Read: Longford places number 6 for highest unemployment rate per capita nationwide

In correspondence with the ‘Leader’ the overseeing body, Waterways Ireland, expressed their concern about the safety and health of people using the canals.

“When Waterways Ireland received the complainants report we referred them to Longford County Council who have the responsibility for managing ringbuoys in this area, and to Water Safety Ireland.

“Our staff also contacted Longford County Council and Water Safety Ireland directly and reported the matter to them,” they said.

They concluded: “For further information regarding the maintenance and monitoring of lifebuoys, we recommend directing your questions to Longford County Council, as this falls within their remit.”