Category Archives: Operations

River and canal keepers

No, not Waterways Ireland, the soi-disant “guardian of Ireland’s inland navigations” (it says here), which is actually responsible for only seven of them on the island, whereof only six are actually navigable, what with nobody’s having noticed that it wasn’t raining, but the Irish Wildlife Trust, which is providing training for river and canal keepers, although I can’t find any mention of it on IWT’s own website.

 

Killaloe eel fishery

Text of aD in Limerick Leader seen on 5 April 2012

Conservation of Silver Eels on the River Shannon

Expressions of interest are invited from all interested parties to assess eligibility for a competitive tender process to award Silver Eel Operations contract on the River Shannon at ESB Eel Weir Killaloe, Co Clare.

To be eligible for consideration interested parties must have:

  • the appropriate eel fishing experience ;
  • knowledge of the River Shannon and Killaloe region as applicable;
  • suitable certified equipment;
  • appropriate insurances;
  • tax certificates, if appropriate;
  • Training records
  • other documentation as may be deemed necessary by ESB.

To register your interest, please contact:

ESB Fisheries Conservation,
Ardnacrusha Generating Station,
Limerick, Co.Clare

before 16.00hrs on Friday 13th April 2012.

Phone: 061 350598/350538; Fax 061 344560
Email: tom.obrien1@esb.ie

================================

More on the eel fishery here.

Estuarial islands

The Shannon Fergus Islands Group is seeking consultants to undertake

research on access, tourism and agricultural sustainability of the islands while identifying how best to deliver on the vision being ever mindful of the primary constraints of physical access limitations and environmental designation.

 

Royal water

The summit level of the Royal Canal has been closed until further notice because of shortage of water and the 34th and 35th levels have been closed until 20 April for emergency repairs. Marine Notices here, along with a general waarning about low water levels.

Met Éireann’s Monthly Summary for March 2012 [PDF] says:

Rainfall totals were relatively low for the time of year, with percentage of normal values below 50% in most locations. Mullingar [which is on the summit level of the Royal Canal] reported its driest March since 1961 (51 years), while most other stations reported their driest March in at least 7 years. Number of wet days recorded (days with 1 mm or more) was below average everywhere, with most stations measuring their lowest March maximum daily rainfall in seven to 39 years.

Can we have our normal weather back please? Or will that be coming in the “summer” months?

Lowtown

Statement from Lowtown Marine here.

Competition closed

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.

Upward-only rent reviews

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.

 

Lowtown

Dáil Written answers Tuesday 27 March 2012

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.

 

On the occasion of Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee …

… (that is, of course, Her Late Victorian Majesty), F E Prothero suspended his explorations of Irish waterways after he had descended the Nore, from Abbeyleix to New Ross, in May 1897. Here is his account of that trip.

Weld eggs …

… on the Royal Canal.