We partnered with Clare County Council to deliver a fully accessible waterside facility at Twomilegate, one of Lough Derg’s most popular swimming and recreation spots.
| Client | Clare County Council |
| Date | July 2024 |
| Where | Twomilegate, Killaloe, Lough Derg, Ireland |
Driven by strong community advocacy led by local campaigner Nicola Welford, whose daughter has cerebral palsy, the project set out to create safe, dignified and inclusive access to the water for users of all abilities.
As lead project manager, Vincent Carey and the Inland and Coastal design team were tasked with developing a solution where accessibility was the guiding principle from the outset.
The project brief focused on enabling users with physical disabilities to access the water independently for both swimming and boating activities. The vision, shaped early on through Nicola Welford’s input and later refined with feedback from her daughter’s occupational therapist, required a combination of specialist hardware and a design approach rooted in real-world usability.
To achieve this, we delivered:
- A DDA-compliant access ramp, designed to meet the 1:12 gradient required for safe wheelchair access.
- A dedicated marine-grade disability hoist, engineered specifically for pontoon environments and supplied by Caley Marine in Inverness.
- A self-launch kayak pontoon, enabling users to safely enter and exit the water with minimal assistance.
While none of these solutions are entirely new, what sets this project apart is the way accessibility shaped the entire structure. As Carey notes: “It’s rare that a full facility is imagined and designed with DDA access at its core. A lot of the time accessibility is retrofitted or added because it’s required, but here it was the driving principle.”
The site itself – characterised by steady water levels and a calm environment – allowed for a smooth integration of these enhancements. Though cost and technical considerations are common challenges in accessibility-focused projects, Twomilegate’s natural suitability helped streamline the design process.
The installation has been warmly received by local users and the wider community, with early feedback highlighting the significance of accessible water facilities in rural areas. We are now using the Killaloe project as a benchmark for future enquiries, demonstrating how meaningful collaboration between councils, communities and marine engineers can deliver truly inclusive outcomes.
It’s rare that a full facility is imagined and designed with DDA access at its core
