Royal Canal Lock 15
Posted in Extant waterways, Ireland, Irish inland waterways vessels, waterways
Tagged Blackthorn, boats, bridge, canal, Hawthorn, Ireland, lock, Royal Canal, waterways
… is paddling from Maynooth on the Royal Canal to the Shannon, down the river (and across Lough Ree) to Shannon Harbour, eastward along the Grand Canal and then (in May, during the IWAI Dublin Rally) into Dublin, across the Liffey and back to Maynooth. He is raising money for the Irish Hospice Foundation.
Here he is on Tuesday 3 April 2012 at the stop-lock near Edenderry on the Grand, heading towards Dublin.
You can donate to the Hospice Foundation here.
Posted in Economic activities, Extant waterways, Ireland, People, waterways
Tagged boats, canal, Edenderry, Grand Canal, Ireland, Royal Canal, Seamus McDonnell, Shannon, stop-lock, waterways
Nobody has attempted to identify this quay, so the competition is now closed and I’ll drink the sherry myself.
It is, of course, the downstream quay at Clarecastle at the head of the Fergus Navigation.
Clarecastle downstream
Here is the upstream quay, just around the corner.
Clarecastle upstream
The upstream quay bears the following inscription.
Inscription at Clarecastle
I really must return and get a better photo when it’s less slippy. Note that, although this is on tidal waters, Thomas Rhodes was the engineer.
Did you know that Clarecastle still has its own port authority? Go to this excellent pub and ask John Power about it. His brother (Dr Joe) wrote the definitive history of Clarecastle. John has lots of interesting old photos and maps on display in a really good traditional pub. He’s got a facetweet thingie too.
Posted in Ashore, Built heritage, Charles Wye Williams, Economic activities, Engineering and construction, Extant waterways, Forgotten navigations, Industrial heritage, Ireland, Operations, People, Politics, Shannon, shannon estuary, Sources, Steamers, The cattle trade, waterways, Waterways management
Tagged boats, Clarecastle, Commissioners, estuary, Fergus, Ireland, Operations, quay, Shannon, Thomas Rhodes, vessels, Waterways Ireland
Upward-only rent reviews seem like one of the more insane inventions of recent years. But I suppose that, if you’re the landlord, they’re a Good Thing. So what are the ten marinas that have UORR leases from Waterways Ireland? Answers on a postcard please ….
h/t Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein), who brought this interesting waterways issue to light.
Department of Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht Affairs: Harbours and Piers
Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party):
Question 350: To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the steps he will take to prevent the eviction of residents by Waterways Ireland from Lowtown Marina near Naas, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16675/12]
Jimmy Deenihan (Minister, Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht; Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael):
As the Deputy will appreciate, the issue referred to relates to operational day-to-day matters for Waterways Ireland (WI) and is one for which I have no direct responsibility. On foot of the Deputy’s Question, however, I have been informed by WI that for some time it has been endeavouring to regularise the ownership and lease arrangements at Lowtown Marina and that, following lengthy negotiations, it is in the process of recovering the property. WI advises that part of that recovery will be to restore the public right of way over the towpath and to remove any unauthorised developments attaching to the marina, especially those which present health and safety risks. I am advised also that certain remedial works are considered necessary, following inspections by WI’s safety advisor, and that these works require the removal of craft moored at the locations in question.
I understand from WI that affected persons living on board craft moored at Lowtown Marina have already been advised to contact WI’s Inspectorate in regard to alternative locations. I am informed that, ultimately, WI intends to re-develop the area in question and is presently examining possibilities for the site, including the installation of serviced berths for houseboats. Any such plans will, however, be contingent on available resources and planning permission.
Here’s a notable notice.
A quay on a tributary of the Shannon, with reeds in the foreground.
Irish waterways history 