Meelick Weir

The Challenge

The Meelick Weir is located on the River Shannon, Ireland’s largest river. This historic weir connects the village of Meelick in Galway with Lusmagh in Offaly and plays a key role in regulating water levels between Athlone, Lough Ree, and Lough Derg.

Severe flooding in 2009, 2015, and 2016 caused significant damage to the weir and footbridge. This not only eliminated a key component of the water infrastructure but also severed the connection between the two communities.

Waterways Ireland sought a future-proof solution that:

• could reliably regulate the water level of the Shannon
• was safe and efficient to operate
• could withstand harsh conditions
• could restore the connection between the two villages

The Solution

Dutch Water Management, then part of KWT, developed a custom solution consisting of 27 weir gates, each 12 meters long.

The sluice gates are operated mechanically via a spindle mechanism from the newly constructed footbridge. This allows a single person to safely and ergonomically raise or lower the water level of the Shannon by more than half a meter.

The solution offered several advantages:

• safe and reliable operation
• precise control of the water level
• reduced physical strain on staff
• restoration of the waterway connection between Meelick and Lusmagh
• a robust construction for long-term use

Quote

“Waterways Ireland is satisfied with the bespoke solution KWT provided for the Meelick weir. With their ingenuity in water flow control, the solution provided met all our requirements.” Deirdre Donnelly, Senior Engineer, Technical Services, Waterways Ireland

Technical Implementation

Reliability was a key priority for this project. The sluice gates had to withstand high water pressure, fluctuating water levels, and heavy loads from the river.

The gates were designed in accordance with the EN 1090 standard and analyzed using specialized software to ensure structural safety and minimal deformation.

During the engineering phase, an additional challenge arose regarding floating debris. While initially limited amounts of floating material were anticipated, in practice this turned out to involve tree trunks weighing up to 2,000 kilograms that could move toward the weir at high speeds. This required additional measures to be incorporated into the project design.

 After production, the weir gates were transported to Ireland and brought to the project site via a pontoon across the Shannon. Using specially developed installation jigs, the elements could be precisely positioned on the newly built concrete weir structure.

The result

With the renovated Meelick Weir, Waterways Ireland now has a safe and future-proof solution for water level management in the Shannon.

In addition, the project also delivered social value. The new footbridge restored the connection between Meelick and Lusmagh and has made walking routes in the area accessible again.

The official opening took place in the presence of the Irish Ministers for Housing and Heritage and the management of Waterways Ireland.

The project was described as a major milestone for the region and the water infrastructure around the Shannon.

Control in Practice

This project demonstrates what the “Control” pillar of Dutch Water Management stands for: managing water with reliable solutions that work in practice.

From engineering and production to implementation and water safety: the Meelick Weir is an example of how technology, collaboration, and water management come together in a single integrated solution.

Do you have a question regarding water level management, weirs, or custom solutions within Control? Feel free to contact us.