TIDAL Opens New Waterways Heritage Centre

Toome based development group TIDAL Ltd has officially opened a new waterways heritage centre and café on the site of the former Lock-Keeper’s cottage at Toome Canal.

Working with Lough Neagh Landscape Partnership and Waterways Ireland, the group secured funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund through its Landscape Partnership Fund to undertake regeneration and refurbishment of the cottage, quay and wider canal amenity area.

The new centre houses a comprehensive interpretative display that covers the history of the canal and its importance as a gateway linking the north coast to the Lough as well as information on the community, natural environmental and wider cultural and industrial heritage of the site.

Chair of TIDAL Ltd, Mr John Laverty, said: "We at TIDAL are delighted to have been instrumental in achieving the realisation of this wonderful new facility. From a cultural, educational, leisure, tourism and historical perspective, we see this reinvention of the disused Lock-Keeper's Cottage as something which will further enrich the tapestry of Toome. We cannot thank our Partners, (Waterways Ireland and Lough Neagh Landscape Partnership) and Funders, (Heritage Lottery and Big Lottery), in this enterprise, enough, for their invaluable contributions and support."

Jim McGreevy, Heritage Lottery Fund NI Committee member, said: "Landscapes are more than just beautiful scenery, they are also living, working places, full of stories and experiences. This new facility will give visitors an insight into past life in and around Lough Neagh and we wish the Partnership every success with this new project. HLF's Landscape Partnership programme encourages a mix of projects and activities which not only help to protect the landscape but also to give communities the opportunities to explore and share their heritage with others. We are delighted that National Lottery players’ money will help Lough Neagh's communities celebrate the wonderful heritage on their doorsteps."

(CD)