CALLS have been made for the popular Greenway playground at Durrow to be reinstated.
The amenity was created by talented wood carver John Hayes and his sidekick James Doyle in conjunction with Waterford City & County Council and Creative Play Solutions.
Cllr Declan Clune (SF) is calling on Waterford City & County Council to reinstate the Durrow Greenway Playground without further delay.
“Last March a bespoke and railway themed children’s playground was installed close to the Greenway entrance in Durrow. The playground was truly incredible and added to the whole Greenway experience in Durrow,” he explained.

The Durrow Greenway Playground pictured prior to its removal.

The Durrow Greenway Playground pictured prior to its removal.


“It was designed specifically for Durrow with lots of wood sculpting including railway wheels, suitcases and picnic tabletops, encapsulating the railway heritage of the area. It was highly utilised and an added attraction to Durrow as after using the Greenway children would enthusiastically use the facility. ”
However, Cllr Clune said the playground was removed shortly after due to an objection from a resident in the area.
He says he has since discovered that there was actually a planning issue with the playground.
“I raised the issue at a Comeragh District meeting shortly after the playground was removed last year and was advised that it would be replaced in the short term,” he said.
“I have made more enquires since and this week have been advised that the playground will not be reinstated in Durrow and the plan is to install it at Carriganore. This is unacceptable as this playground is part of the attraction of Durrow. An individual in the area has gone so far as to offer a site for the playground to the Council. ”
He added: “I have contacted my District Council colleague Cllr Liam Brazil (FG) and he has agreed to support a motion at our next District Meeting calling on Waterford Council to reinstate the playground without further delay. We simply cannot support any attempt to permanently remove this fabulous attraction which will enhance and build on the success of the Greenway in the Durrow area.”In a Facebook post, the ‘Déise Greenway’ group, whose members were instrumental in ensuring the Waterford Greenway became a reality, appealed to all local public representatives to help resolve the issue of the playground. “We are still waiting for its return back to Durrow right beside the Greenway, ” the post said.
“We are of the understanding that a local landowner has kindly donated a site beside the Greenway for its location near to Durrow car park but we wonder when this will happen. Please encourage the local public representatives of the Comeragh area by emailing them and contacting them for their support to get the playground back in Durrow. ”
Garvan Cummins of the ‘Déise Greenway’ group, who also operates ‘The Greenway Man’ bike rental and tours, said: “The feedback was that it was an absolutely stunning playground and it was heavily used too. Its railway theme was superb and it was a great way of getting young children onto the Greenway to use it. Considering it was only there a few months, it still felt like it was there for years and we really just felt it was part of the whole fabric around Durrow and the Greenway.”