At Inland and Coastal, we talk a lot about access for all – but every once in a while, a project comes along that truly embodies what that means. Our recent work at Twomilegate on Lough Derg, Killaloe, is one of those projects.
This wasn’t a typical commission. It began with a powerful local voice: Nicola Welford, a mother, advocate and tireless campaigner for better facilities for people with disabilities. Nicola, whose daughter has cerebral palsy, approached Clare County Council with a clear and compelling request for a permanent, safe, dignified way for disabled users to access the water at one of the region’s most popular swimming and boating spots.
The County Council took up the challenge, and that’s when Inland and Coastal was brought in to design and manufacture a solution from the ground up.
Designing with accessibility at the core
From the outset, this project was about more than meeting standards – it was about meeting real needs. Project Manager Vincent Carey led the project, ensuring accessibility was embedded in the design from day one, not added as an afterthought.
We installed three key accessibility features:
- A DDA-compliant ramp, designed to achieve the regulatory 1:12 maximum slope
- A marine-grade disability hoist, specifically engineered for pontoon use and manufactured by our partners at Caley Marine in Inverness
- A self-launch kayak pontoon, enabling independent entry and exit from the water where possible
These elements were selected not just because they work on paper, but because they work for the people who will use them. Feedback from Nicola, along with input from her daughter’s occupational therapist, was instrumental in shaping the final design.
What sets this project apart is that accessibility wasn’t a constraint, it was the concept. As Carey says, “It’s rare that a full facility is imagined and designed with DDA access at its core. A lot of the time accessibility is added out of obligation, or it’s retrofitted later. Here, it was the driving principle.”
A site that supported the vision
Twomilegate was uniquely suited to become a model of inclusivity. The water levels are stable, the environment is calm and the community is active and engaged. That minimised some of the challenges we often face – steep drops, large tides or space constraints – allowing us to focus entirely on usability and safety.
Of course, there were still practical hurdles. As with any accessibility-focused project, enhancements can be costly, and ensuring the right equipment fits both the location and user needs takes careful engineering. But the results speak for themselves.
A community-driven success story
The response so far has been overwhelmingly positive. Locals have praised the facility, and although we haven’t yet gathered formal testimonials from disabled users, the feedback reaching us by word of mouth has been hugely encouraging.
For us, this project demonstrates what’s possible when community advocacy, local authority support and thoughtful marine engineering all pull in the same direction. Getting a definite steer on what the user groups want from the outset is vital. Every site is different, but when accessibility is the goal, early collaboration is the key to achieving something truly effective.
This approach is already shaping how we respond to other enquiries across the UK and Ireland, and we’re proud to use Killaloe as a benchmark for what inclusive waterfront facilities can look like.
Looking forward
Will accessibility hardware become standard on every pontoon? Realistically, not yet – cost, site constraints and regulatory gaps remain challenges for the industry. But innovations are coming, awareness is growing and Inland and Coastal is committed to playing our part, whether by sharing best practice, advising councils and communities, or designing solutions that push expectations forward.
For now, Twomilegate stands as a shining example of what can be achieved when inclusion is the starting point – not the final thought. And for us at Inland and Coastal, it’s a privilege to have been part of it.
