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The €4.6m Athlone scheme commenced in January 2014
both contracts. We’ve been in Mullingar since last summer and I have to say the county engineer Greg Duggan, the caretaker engineer John Mayfield and all the other staff in Westmeath County Council have been the nicest and most helpful people we’ve ever dealt with. They’re a pleasure to work with. “The Mullingar public have also been very understanding. We haven’t had five complaints during the works. If the Athlone scheme – which we only started in January – goes half as well, we’ll be very happy.” The schemes were necessitated owing to an ageing distribution pipe network in both Mullingar and Athlone.
Water shortages due to the harsh winters in 2009 and 2010 put excessive strain on the existing system, which resulted in unstainable levels of water leaks. It’s estimated that as much as 40 per of water produced in the county is being lost through leakage. Once these schemes are complete, Westmeath County Council expects not only to see significant improvements, but also the number of leakages to sharply decrease. Funding for the rehabilitation works has been provided under the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government (DECLG) and Westmeath
The ShareRidge Ltd chlorination unit
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County Council. Achill Island native Michael returned from England in 2000 to set up ShareRidge along with his son Sean and nephew Paul McNamara. Directors Sean and Paul are joined in the company by Paul’s sister Alicia, who manages the office on Thomas Street, Castlebar. ShareRidge has grown to employ 100 staff, including former Mayo football star Ciaran McDonald, who is a foreman on the Athlone Water Mains Rehabilitation Scheme. “A lot of our staff are involved with their local GAA clubs. Everyone knows Ciaran McDonald, who is still playing club football with Crossmolina. My nephew Paul is also a former Mayo footballer and is currently training the Achill Island senior football team. We employ quite a few lads from the Athlone area as well,” Michael says. “Most of our work is carried out at night time in order to avoid water and traffic disruption. It is our aim at all times to cause as little disruption to the public as possible.” ShareRidge has undertaken numerous major civil engineering projects over the years, using new techniques in pipe replacement. As a result of projects such as the Grundopit Mini Directional Drilling contract in Mervue Galway, the company has gained national recognition and a lofty reputation as pipe replacement specialists. Boasting a strong technical competency across all areas,