Bawnboy and Templeport
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| Shannon-Erne Waterway |
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Templeport parish has a small but very important connection with the Shannon-Erne Waterway, formerly the Ballinamore-Ballyconnell Canal and later, The Woodford River. Burren, the most southerly townland and the largest in the parish found itself cut off by water from the remainder of the parish until the early years of this century. The Woodford river, wide and deep moved along the north-eastern boundary of Burren, cutting it off from the townland of Coologe. As it emptied into Coologe Lake the divide between the Burren and Derrycassan was much more formidable, a condition which continued as Derrycassan Lake spread its waters north-west of Burren.
John Thomas Fox, R.I.P. who spent most of his life in the townland of Coologe tells us in his writings that there were three routes which could be used by the people of Burren when travelling to church or school in Templeport parish. The canal could be crossed at Kiltynaskellan Lock where there was a footbridge across the thirty-foot open span. The second route was to cross the canal on the stepping stones where Burren bridge now stands, and the water was at its lowest, about three feet deep. The third route, used by families near Burren Lane was to cross the narrow stretch of river about fifteen yards wide joining Burren and Derrycassan lakes. This was done by boat which the Flynn family provided, especially for those going to Mass on Sundays or to Porturlan school on weekdays. The Massgoers or pupils were ferried across into Derrycassan Lane.
Great efforts were made during the last decade of the 19th century to have a bridge erected at Burren, but landlord Bolton would not co-operate. Under a Land Act of 1903, after Bolton had sold his titles to the newly established Land Commission, there were great hopes of a successful outcome, but the best efforts of the parish priest, Rev. Patrick Finegan and two local Rural Councillors, Patrick Duffy, Burren and Patrick McEntaggart, Kilnavart met with failure. There was a break through in 1912 when Fr. Peter Brady P.P. took up the cause and Bawnboy Rural District Council voted unanimously for the erection of a bridge and access roads in both directions. Bridge and roads were in place and in use by November 1913.
Today under the Shannon-Erne Waterway development, Burren bridge has been replaced by a fine modern structure which allows cruisers to pass underneath. It has been given a new name, ‘Coologe Bridge’. The Shannon-Erne Waterway has opened up the countryside from Fermanagh, through Cavan and Leitrim to the Shannon. Car parks, resting sites, public telephones and toilets at mooring docks are a great advance on anything heretofore experienced in rural Ireland and the landscaping along the waterway is highly attractive and pleasing to the eye.
 Coologe Bridge Left to right:- John Boyle O'Reilly, Seán Corrigan, Margaret O'Reilly, Rumold Dolan. |
Last update: 27 February, 2009 19:12 |