Essential kit for barge-drivers

Posted on Tuesday 31 July 2012 | 2 comments

So there you are outside one of the more sheltered harbours (Dromaan, say), unable to see how much space there is inside and wondering whether, if you go in, you’ll find you have to reverse out again. How useful it would be to be able to see inside from some distance away. How useful it would be to have a small helicopter at your disposal, one that could send pics back to you.

Clearly such a gadget would be a must-have item, an essential piece of equipment for any conscientious barge-driver. Happily, it exists.

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Posted in Engineering and construction, Extant waterways, Operations, Shannon, Water sports activities

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Where do …

Posted on Tuesday 31 July 2012 | Leave a comment

… (a) correct ideas and (b) camper vans come from?

Correct ideas, as everyone is undoubtedly aware, come from three kinds of social practice: the struggle for production, the class struggle and scientific experiment.

Camper vans (or RVs: song on this page requiring Flash) may come to WI harbours because they’ve studied the Safe Nights Ireland website, which (inter alia) lists all the public toilets in Ireland (many counties have none) and the WI facilities.

Incidentally, I have been told that WI now welcomes camper vans, having persuaded Bord Fáilte that the economy won’t collapse if it recognises the reality that the vans use the harbours. However, I haven’t seen that in writing anywhere; if anyone can point me towards a reliable source, please leave a Comment below.

 

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Posted in Ashore, Economic activities, Extant waterways, Ireland, Irish waterways general, Non-waterway, Operations, Politics, Shannon, Sources, Tourism, waterways, Waterways management

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Birthday girl

Posted on Tuesday 31 July 2012 | Leave a comment

Miranda at 100

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Posted in Extant waterways, Industrial heritage, Ireland, Irish inland waterways vessels, Restoration and rebuilding, Shannon, waterways

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Working for Waterways Ireland

Posted on Tuesday 31 July 2012 | Leave a comment

What is the most important (because first listed) skill for those seeking employment with Waterways Ireland as general operatives (basic)?

Good communication skills.

I am very glad to hear it.

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Posted in Ashore, Economic activities, Engineering and construction, Extant waterways, Irish waterways general, Operations, People, waterways, Waterways management

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Our deeds determine us …

Posted on Tuesday 31 July 2012 | Leave a comment

… and Waterways Ireland wants to digitise its deeds:

Waterways Ireland house, in secure storage, an important collection of deeds / documents, in paper format, that relate to their assets and land interests throughout Ireland. Waterways Ireland wishes to appoint a service provider to digitise these on a rolling basis. […]

The deeds are broadly of two types:

– Multi-page land transfer deeds which are usually A3-A4 in size and stapled or bound. Many are DL folded.

– Large format title deeds, dating from late 18th century onwards. These are generally on velum, folded and A2 or greater in size.

Other maps and documents which may be required to size A0 and larger.

Incidentally, WI should decide whether it is, er, singular or plural.

 

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Posted in Economic activities, Industrial heritage, Ireland, Irish waterways general, Operations, waterways, Waterways management

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Waterways walks

Posted on Tuesday 31 July 2012 | Leave a comment

Look!

Waterways Ireland and a local authority have cooperated in opening a canalside walking and cycling path!

And an excitable minister opened it, saying

This has huge potential for tourism but it also has a huge knock on effect for communities in the health benefit facilities like this bring and this, in turn has benefits in reducing the press on our health services as well. I want to see more walkways because I want to see more people out walking and seeing the natural beauty that we here in Ireland are blessed to have around us.

And rightly so. But you don’t need an expensive canal in order to provide a walk.

 

 

 

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Posted in Economic activities, Engineering and construction, Extant waterways, Foreign parts, Forgotten navigations, Irish waterways general, Natural heritage, Non-waterway, Operations, People, Politics, Restoration and rebuilding, Scenery, Ulster Canal, waterways, Waterways management

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High heels

Posted on Tuesday 31 July 2012 | Leave a comment

High …

…

… heels

PS if you’re the man on the mast, and want copies of the pic above and others, leave a Comment below.

 

 

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Posted in Extant waterways, Ireland, Irish inland waterways vessels, People, Water sports activities, waterways

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Every jar that hit the bar

Posted on Tuesday 31 July 2012 | 4 comments

This site has just passed 250,000 views.

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Bertie Ahern

Posted on Friday 27 July 2012 | 2 comments

According to the Irish Times, writing about Clones:

[…] But people are trying hard to turn the tide: cleaning its buildings, promoting its hand-made lace, and hoping that the Monaghan part of the Ulster Canal will be re-opened.

The latter was a promise of former taoiseach Bertie Ahern. Clones is endearingly resistant to trends – it is still the proud capital of Irish country and western music although some admit that the best dancehall is Blacklion’s “ballroom of romance”.

I think Clones must be the last town in Ireland to cling to Bertie’s word.

Oh well, if Bertie says so ….

 

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Posted in Built heritage, Economic activities, Engineering and construction, Foreign parts, Forgotten navigations, Industrial heritage, Ireland, Non-waterway, People, Politics, Restoration and rebuilding, Ulster Canal, waterways, Waterways management

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Water levels

Posted on Tuesday 17 July 2012 | Leave a comment

Not on the Shannon or on the Erne but on the Mississippi. It seems the level is now 53 feet below the flood level of last May and eight to ten feet below normal.

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Posted in Economic activities, Extant waterways, Foreign parts, Operations, Waterways management, Weather

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