A €10 million development plan has been announced for Kenmare harbour, Co Kerry, aimed at creating a Mediterranean-style working port.
The once-busy harbour at the far eastern end of the Kenmare river - actually a bay stretching for about 30km - is only usable at high water by boats with a shallow draft.
The ambitious plan proposes dredging large deposits of shingle and mud which have built up from the Roughty and Sheen rivers and creating an environment for a busy working port with up to 150 berths.
A new pier and promenade is to be built as well as a protective wall to keep out waves, storm and mud from the sea.
The old pier and road are to remain, and the harbour will be built around them, according to Donald Lynch, president of the Kenmare Chamber of Commerce.
Architect Peter-Hans Kline said during a special presentation yesterday of the planned development that Kenmare was "a romantic town".
The Kenmare Harbour Development Group said it did not want to create an "aristocratic marina". It wanted a working harbour "like Italian or French harbours", whose flair came from the fact they were used by fishing boats.
The dredging material would be used to reclaim land from the sea and to create a landbank which would part-fund the project, it added.
Harbour buildings, but not hotels or apartments, were planned for the reclaimed land bank. The proposal would include a utility centre for boat repair and a playground and car-parking facilities, as well as a "people's garden".
The works were also necessary to prevent major flooding, Mr Kline said. Kenmare had suffered badly from flooding in recent years.
The harbour and pier were created in 1826, and their position was chosen because of their proximity to the town. The harbour had a depth of 16ft at high water, and large cargo boats unloaded coal, salt, timber and slates.
The harbour was the only means of transport during the Civil War. It was used for merchant shipping until 40 years ago and by Scottish fishing trawlers until the 1950s.
Government grants, EU funding and income from reclaimed land should fund the project.
The Dereen estate is offering land to facilitate a playground and car park.
The promoters are also seeking technical assistance from Kerry County Council, and details are being worked out with council management.
Kerry county manager Martin Riordan described the plan yesterday as "an exciting potential development".