IWAI Towpath Tidy Big Lunch
Image by The Big Lunch
Newry – Portadown BIG TOWPATH TIDY
IN a massive demonstration of community spirit and joint action 125 volunteers of all ages joined members of the local branch of the Inland Waterways Association of Ireland (IWAI), on a simultaneous litterpick along the 18 miles of canal towpath between Newry and Portadown on Saturday.
A diversity of local people from dog walkers and boy scouts, sports clubs and supermarket workers, walking clubs and young families joined in to commence the clean up, co-ordinated by volunteers from the IWAI Newry & Portadown branch.
Geraldine Foley IWAI branch secretary said: “We had hoped for a bit of local support for the project undertaken as part of Tidy NI’s BIG Spring Clean, but have been overwhelmed by the response we’ve had not only from volunteers wanting to litterpick but also from businesses and local government agencies we approached for support."
IWAI work parties always feature a communal navvies lunch, which was replicated on the Big Towpath Tidy.
"We decided to try having a simultaneous Big Lunch for volunteers at the end of each stage," explained Geraldine "to celebrate our efforts and to chat with other volunteers in that spirit of neighbourhood and community encouraged by the Eden Project’s Big Lunch campaign.
“IWAI lunches have always been fertile ground to discuss ideas for the future of the canal and this Big Tidy Lunch was no exception.
“Many of the volunteers wish to repeat the event next year, which is all great news for IWAI and our campaign for restoring the canal.
"The restoration of the towpath has been a phenomenal success over the last decade and it’s now time the next step was taken – bringing boating life back to the canal,” Mrs Foley said.
To find out more about IWAI visit www.facebook.com/Newry.Portadown.canal
Or contact the branch on newry@iwai.ie. Or phone 07981193480
If you would like to have a Big Lunch to motivate community spirit in your area visit www.thebiglunch.com
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
•200,000 visits per year are made to the Newry – Portadown canal towpath, a long distance off-road walking and cycle track linking the two towns.
•The Newry canal is the oldest true canal in the UK and Ireland dating from 1741. While the line of the canal remains intact the waterway itself is now derelict.
•The Inland Waterways Association of Ireland (IWAI) has more than 2,000 members in 21 branches throughout Ireland. The local branch is the Newry & Portadown branch who are campaigning to have the canal restored to leisure boat traffic.
•IWAI hold conservation work parties along the canal to preserve the historic infrastructure from further decay and degradation. In 2012 they delivered 2,500 hours of voluntary labour on the canal.
•The branch won the Tidy NI/ Coca Cola Inland Waterways Group of the year 2012 and one member was awarded Northern Ireland’s Most Committed Volunteer.
BRANCH OFFICERS.
Chair: Peter Maxwell
Tel 07981193480
newrychairiwai@yahoo.co.uk
Secretary:
Geraldine Foley
Tel: 07981193481 foleyger@yahoo.com