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Images of Killeshin
reservoir,
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Local Government Reform
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- 1813 OSi map of
Killeshin Reservoir
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Carlow Town from an Administrative and Engineering
perspective has led the way in the delivery of services
for it’s citizens. This commenced back in 1894 when Carlow
Urban District Council commissioned a new Water works
Reservoir at a site in Killeshin and piped the supply into
Carlow Town & Graiguecullen. A local ESB generating
station was installed beside Carlow Town bringing power to
the Locality long before Towns of similar size in the
Region, e.g. Kilkenny. This was overseen by a Local
Engineer Mr. Hooper who had an electrical shop in Carlow
Town. Later another Local Engineer Paddy Dowling would
bring the lesson learnt in Carlow nationwide, as he
pioneered rural electrification in Ireland.
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Killeshin Water Works |
Killeshin Water Works |
Laying the foundation
of the Killeshin waterworks 5th September 1894
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Killeshin Water Works |
Killeshin Water Works |
Killeshin Water Works |
Killeshin Water Works |
Killeshin Water Works |
Source:
http://www.panoramio.com/
& Google Street View
Fresh start! Killeshin
reservoir reopens as Amenity Park
Tuesday, August 06, 2013
 Elizabeth
Kinsella, the widow of John Kinsella, the last resident caretaker
of the waterworks, cuts the ribbon to officially open the
Killeshin Waterworks Reservoir Amenity Park Pic: Michael O’Rourke
FOR 99 years the good folk of Carlow town were
getting their water supply from a reservoir from their near
neighbours in Killeshin, Laois. So celebrated at the time was the
story of the reservoir that the Nationalist carried the story of
the foundation stone being laid in 1894. However, 20 years ago,
Carlovians turned their attentions to the Slaney river for their
supply and discontinued receiving their water from the O’Moore
county reservoir, despite retaining the lease on it. It has taken
that length of time up to two years ago for Laois to reclaim the
reservoir in Killeshin and last Friday, it reopened it as an
amenity park.
When the reservoir was decommissioned 20
years ago, a small committee was formed as Killeshin Development
Association. They set their sights on maintaining the area with a
vision of one day turning the reservoir into an area that could be
used by the general public. Three years ago, a meeting with Laois
county manager Peter Carey set the wheels in motion. He told the
present seven-person strong committee of John McDermott, Phyllis
Gaffney, Dora Fennell, Annette Dempsey, Tony Carr, Michael Rice
and Brendan Fitzpatrick that he would approach Carlow Town Council
to see if they could acquire the reservoir. A €1 coin exchanged
hands and the reservoir was back in the ownership of Laois.
The committee then employed two local men, Brendan Coakley and
John Bradley, under a social employment scheme, who continued with
the maintenance and upkeep of the area. It was when the council’s
senior area engineer Orla Barrett came on board that things really
shifted into top gear, calumniating with the official opening of
the amenity park last week. Three bridges were built, fences were
erected, tarmacadam was laid, a car park was developed, areas were
landscaped and a pump house was renovated. What was once a
reservoir area was transformed into an education eco tourist
location.
Association chairperson John McDermott said: “It
has taken the patience of many people who have been on committees
over the years to bring this project to where it is today. It is
great to see the results of Orla Barrett and her team’s work. We
are now ready to promote the area to schools and to people from
all walks of life.” Mr McDermott said that Éanna Ní Lamhna, the
respected biologist, environmental consultant and presenter
conducted a survey in the area about seven years ago and found
extremely rare foliage and plants to be growing only in that area.
Also among the speakers at the event were Mr Carey, the acting
chairperson of Carlow Town Council Michael Abbey and cathaoirleach
of Laois Co Council cllr Mary Sweeney.
A joint blessing
was performed by Graiguecullen PP Fr John Dunphy and by the Church
of Ireland Revd Peter Carleton. Local councillors Padraig Fleming
and James Daly were glowing in their tributes to the committee and
the council on their achievements
Source: The Carlow
Nationalist
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