Last pontoon bridge over Shannon waters

IT looks as if hundreds of adventure race competitors have enjoyed the unique experience of running across the water on the longest temporary pontoon bridge ever built in Ireland last Saturday for the last time. Conceived and built for the first Quest Lough Derg in 2019, Elite Event Management came up with the idea when faced with the logistical challenge of moving participants safely across the water from Killaloe to Ballina.
While Elite Management is planning to host Quest Lough Derg again next year in Ballina and Killaloe, organisers are hoping the temporary pontoon may no longer be necessary once the new River Shannon Crossing is operational, which is expected to be open before September 2025.
In a joint partnership between Elite Event Management, Waterways Ireland, Tipperary and Clare County Councils, it is Ireland’s biggest temporary pontoon over the Shannon at 170 metres, and was the fourth time a new bridge had been built in Killaloe in 300 years.
In fact, one of the organisers Cian Murphy has claimed it was the largest temporary pontoon in Europe that they are aware of.
The marine blocks that are used in pontoons for boats are akin to large Lego.
Work on assembling the 170-metre temporary pontoon started on Tuesday morning last week and it was finished on Friday afternoon.
Elite Management Event Manager, Cian Murphy, confirmed four articulated lorry loads of marine blocks were used in the construction of the temporary pontoon.
In fact, members of the public enjoyed a different view of the existing historic Killaloe bridge when they availed of the opportunity to walk on the floating pontoon between 7 and 8pm on Friday night.
“It provided a different perspective of the twin communities for local people who went on the pontoon during this time,” he said.
“It might be a bit of a headache for us but it is a great novelty for the competitors.
“Hopefully, we will not have to provide a temporary pontoon next year once the new bridge is built. This would make the logistics a bit easier.”
A unique feature of this adventure race is its impressive finish that involves participants running across the temporary pontoon bridge on water spanning the Shannon from Killaloe to Ballina.
The final stage of the race sees participants race to the finish line across the river to the cheers of watching friends and family.
Gary Ferguson, Killala, Mayo told The Clare Champion last year it isn’t often any athlete gets an opportunity to run across the River Shannon, which he described as “cool”.
Designed and constructed by specialist contractors, Pontoons Ireland, the pontoon took about four days to build before it was moved to its position outside Flanagan’s across to the Killaloe canal bank.
The pontoon has 950 blocks with 1,500 dowels that hold them all together. It is a unique experience for athletes and is not done in any other event.
Elite organise events all over Ireland in Glendalough, Kenmare, and Killarney but Killaloe/Balina is the only place it provides this pontoon.
Event organisers, Elite Event Management work closely with Clare County Council, Tipperary County Council, Destination Lough Derg Group and Fáilte Ireland to bring this high-profile event to the region.
The event organisers have extended their thanks to Waterways Ireland for their help facilitating the installation of the pontoon bridge over the Shannon in previous years.