On 22 April 1834 Daniel O’Connell, MP for Dublin but a native of Kerry, argued in the House of Commons at Westminster for, IIRC, five hours in favour of the repeal of the Act of Union. Here is what Wordle makes of his speech.
Daniel O’Connell Wordled
On the following day Thomas Spring-Rice, MP for Cambridge but a native of Limerick, responded for six hours. Here is what Wordle made of it.
Thomas Spring-Rice Wordled
In County Clare, urination has a long and distinguished history. Here is a piece about one early example: while it was not on inland waters, I hope that the involvement of the Head Pacificator, renowned for his efforts to promote the Shannon, as well as of two authors who provide useful information about the river, will excuse the inclusion.
Posted in Charles Wye Williams, Economic activities, Engineering and construction, Extant waterways, Industrial heritage, Ireland, Non-waterway, Operations, People, Politics, Scenery, waterways, Weather
Tagged boats, Charles Deane, Clare, estuary, Intrinsic, Ireland, iron, Jonathan Binns, Kilkee, Kilrush, Liverpool, Mary John Knott, New Orleans, Thoma Steele, wreck
Kilrush across the creek
It was highly gratifying to witness the animation that prevailed in Kilrush — the neatness of the little shops, the flagged pathway, and the absence of accumulated dirt, so prominent and offensive a peculiarity of most small towns in Ireland. The people about Kilrush (whose population is 5000) are handsome, and appear considerably more intelligent than in many other places.
Jonathan Binns The Miseries and Beauties of Ireland Vol II Longman, Orme, Brown and Co, London 1837
Posted in Ashore, Built heritage, Charles Wye Williams, Economic activities, Engineering and construction, Extant waterways, Forgotten navigations, Industrial heritage, Ireland, People, Politics, Scenery, Shannon, shannon estuary, Sources, Steamers, The cattle trade, The fishing trade, The turf trade, Tourism, waterways
Tagged 1837, Clare, estuary, Ireland, Jonathan Binns, Kilrush, Shannon
Update from Clare Daly TD here.
From William Henry Smith CE A Twelve Months’ Residence in Ireland, during the famine and the public works, 1846 and 1847. With suggestions to meet the coming crisis: practical suggestions to English and Irish landholders, on improved agriculture, reclamation of bogs, mosses and other waste lands; physical and social aspect; the famine and public works; monetary suggestions for Irish property; harbours and fisheries [Longman, Brown, Green, & Longmans, London; Hodges and Smith, Dublin 1848]:
As it is, there are some very fine solid works here; the bridge, the locks, and the weir, do great credit to all parties, both in the skill of design, and care in execution; they are the only great improvements, west of Dublin, possessing a really English character of magnitude, usefulness, and finish.
Posted in Built heritage, Drainage, Economic activities, Engineering and construction, Extant waterways, Industrial heritage, Ireland, Irish waterways general, Operations, Politics, Shannon, Steamers, The cattle trade, waterways, Waterways management
Tagged 1848, Athlone, boats, bridge, English, Ireland, lock, Shannon, Smith, weir
[Jeremy] Bentham would have been further interested to know that the Great Agitator[Daniel O’Connell] and Purcell O’Gorman, during a tedious journey by canal boat from Dublin, amused themselves firing pistol-shots at the trees on either side.
W J Fitzpatrick ed Correspondence of Daniel O’Connell The Liberator Vol II 1888
O’Connell refused to take part in duels but was said to be an excellent shot. More on Daniel O’Connell and inland waterways here.
In an article on making use of the Royal Canal, I wrote:
[…] I am neither active in user groups nor a confidant of Waterways Ireland, so it is quite possible that folk have developed, or are developing, some plans to increase use of the Royal and Grand Canals (and the Barrow): plans that involve boats rather than, say, cyclists or walkers, who don’t actually need a functioning canal, just wayleaves and interesting artefacts to look at. I’d like to see such plans published on the Waterways Ireland website, but I haven’t found anything there.
But it seems that the cyclists may get in first. According to a report in today’s Irish Times [which may eventually disappear behind a paywall]:
Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar has instructed the National Roads Authority to examine possible routes for a cross-country cycle path from Dublin to Galway, similar to the award-winning Great Western Greenway in Co Mayo.
Mr Varadkar, who is also responsible for tourism and sport, said he wanted to secure funding for the project he predicted had the potential to bring in at least €15 million per annum. While a proposed route remained to be decided, the Royal Canal was an “obvious candidate” for the stretch outside Dublin from Mullingar to Maynooth, he said.
[…] Mr Varadkar said the proposed Galway-Dublin facility should be open to walkers as well as cyclists, like the Great Western Greenway.
Nothing wrong with any of that, of course. And perhaps walking and cycling routes could be developed in other ares, eg from Belturbet to Clones ….
Notice, by the way, that the news story mentions the National Roads Authority and the National Transport Authority. But which body is not mentioned?
Posted in Ashore, Built heritage, Economic activities, Engineering and construction, Extant waterways, Ireland, Irish inland waterways vessels, Non-waterway, Operations, People, Politics, Restoration and rebuilding, Tourism, waterways, Waterways management
Tagged boats, bridge, canal, cycle, cycling, Dublin, Galway, green route, Ireland, Maynooth, Mullingar, Royal Canal, towing-path, towpath, trackway, Ulster Canal, Varadkar, walking, Waterways Ireland, wayleave
Here is an article from 1792 about the virtues of the River Shannon. It was written by an unidentified Traveller from Shincliffe, near Durham. It is interesting as an earlyish example of the Irish waterways cargo cult which, it has been pointed out to me, resembles the business plan of the underpants gnomes.
Posted in Ashore, Drainage, Economic activities, Engineering and construction, Extant waterways, Ireland, Natural heritage, Operations, People, Politics, Scenery, Shannon, shannon estuary, Sources, The cattle trade, Tourism, waterways
Tagged 1792, black cattle, Clare, estuary, Galway, Ireland, Kerry, King's County, Leitrim, Limerick, Longford, Offaly, Roscommon, Shannon, Shincliffe, Shinkliff, Tipperary, traveller, Westmeath
North Tipperary LEADER Partnership (lead), Clare Local Development Co. and Galway Rural Development Co. intends to contract an individual or company with relevant experience who will work in conjunction with the Lough Derg Marketing Strategy Group to identify tourism projects that would be eligible for funding under the Rural Development Programme. The aim, through animation and capacity building, is to assist the tourism sector in the three regions with the supports they require to develop Lough Derg as a key destination for water based activities combined with a range of very high quality walking, cycling, heritage and culture and food experience.
More info here; not sure whether you need to register to see it.
Posted in Ashore, Economic activities, Extant waterways, Industrial heritage, Ireland, Irish waterways general, Operations, Politics, Scenery, Shannon, Tourism, Water sports activities, waterways, Waterways management
Tagged Clare, Galway, Ireland, Killaloe, Limerick, Lough Derg, Shannon, Tipperary, tourism, waterways
Irish waterways history 