A €110,000 project to restore a historic mill water wheel in Co Clare is now complete.

Ennis Civic Trust, in partnership with the council, completed the project at Ennis Corn Mill on Mill Road.

Local contractors Lenihan's (Clonloum) Ltd carried out the restoration of the wood and iron water wheel.

The restoration means the wheel can be safely operated and presented as an active heritage project.

-- Advertisement --

Works included the realignment and treatment of the existing wheel frames, the installation of treated larch paddles and fitted oak starts, the refurbishment and reinstallation of the original mechanical raising system as well as installing an exact replica of the Irish Oak and Elm sluice gate.

In addition, a new operator access deck was built while new stepladders and handrails were erected. The area around the former Mill site will also undergo further regeneration.

Mayor of Ennis, Councillor Pat Daly, said: "I would hope that this important heritage project will help create greater public awareness of the heritage of the Clare County Capital and how the Mill was once one of the town's most significant employers."

(LM/JP)