Record low water levels now ground the ‘Wheelyboat’

During a 2011 visit to Fermoy, Minister of State, Kathleen Lynch TD inspected the wheelchair accessible boat 'An Spiorad Saor, John Mahon'. She is pictured with the boat's skipper Chris 'Kipper' O'Donovan and locals. (J-d)

“You might as well put a sign on the Blackwater river saying ‘Closed to people with disabilities’,” Chris 'Kipper' O’Donovan told The Avondhu this week.

He made his remarks in the wake of the announcement that An Spiorad Saor John Mahon, Ireland’s only Mark III wheelchair-accessible fishing boat, is no longer able to operate safely due to record low water levels caused by structural damage to Fermoy Weir.

Chris O’Donovan, pilot of An Spiorad Saor John Mahon, known locally as 'the wheelyboat', said this development will affect thousands of people with disabilities.

Full story in this week’s Print & Digital Edition