Swan Park on track for summer 2021

The welcome news was confirmed at this week’s Inishowen Municipal District meeting in Carndonagh, at which Fianna Fail Councillor Rena Donaghey praised the ‘excellent work’ undertaken so far at the picturesque location, which is popular with locals and visitors from Derry and beyond.

The park was severely damaged by the devastating floods of August 2017 and there is currently limited access. In late 2018, it was announced that funding of E1.7 million had been allocated for works.

Councillor Donaghey said she was ‘delighted to see that work has started on Swan Park’ and pointed out how ‘there has been some excellent work done on pathways recently.’

Colr Donaghey asked if the work was ‘on track’ and still on time for next year.

Seamus Hopkins, of the council’s roads department said there are ‘some constraints’ around work on Swan Park in relation to fisheries and access to rivers at certain times of the year, due to spawning. He told how the council has been ‘given the green light’ to undertake works recently, including ongoing river defence structures.

He said the ‘specialised elements’ of work in the park have been tendered and the rest of the work will be done by ‘direct labour’ from the council. Mr Hopkins told the meeting how they are ‘progressing with as much work as we can get done this year.’

He added that it is hoped the ‘main structural elements’ will be in place this year, with landscaping undertaken next year and a ‘summer opening in 2021.’