HOPES HAVE been raised that a historic steamship lying on the bed of the Shannon at Ballina, Co Tipperary, may be salvaged and preserved as a tourist attraction.
The wreckage of the Lady Lansdowne, one of the world’s oldest iron steamers, which was in service on the Shannon in the mid- 19th century, lies submerged at Ballina’s Derg Marina.
The site is presently the subject of a planning application for a €60 million marina, residential and retail development.
North Tipperary County Council has requested development company Eclipse Developments to examine the possibility of raising the Lady Lansdowne following submissions from several local groups and the International Commission for Maritime History.
The local authority has informed Eclipse Developments that it fears the marina proposal “may seriously compromise the integrity of this historic wreck”, which, it notes, is protected under the National Monuments Act.
The developers were asked to submit a full method statement of construction works to ensure that the wreckage is adequately protected.
The council suggested the possibility of raising the steamer, with the historic vessel being preserved as a “feature” on the site.
The developers were asked to consult the National Monuments Service to investigate proposals for such an undertaking.
Built by Liverpool’s famous shipbuilders, Cammell Laird, in 1833 and launched in Killaloe, Co Clare, a year later, the Lady Lansdowne was one of the world’s earliest iron steamships and the largest steamer to work on the Shannon, ferrying passengers and cargo from Portumna, Co Galway, to Killaloe. The vessel remained in service until about 1865 or 1866.
The Ballina Marina Action Group has welcomed the local authority’s request, in the hopes that the steamer can be raised.