Here is a piece about the Aaron Manby, the first iron steamer to make a sea voyage, and its links to Irish inland waterways transport.
The piece was first published in the rally magazine of the Inland Waterways Association of Ireland Lough Derg Branch in July 2017.
Posted in Charles Wye Williams, Economic activities, Engineering and construction, Extant waterways, Foreign parts, Historical matters, Industrial heritage, Ireland, Irish inland waterways vessels, Operations, Passenger traffic, People, Sea, Shannon, shannon estuary, Sources, Steamers, The cattle trade, Tourism, waterways, Waterways management
Tagged Aaron Manby, Charles Napier, Charles Wye Williams, Irish Sea, iron, John Grantham, John Oldham, Liverpool, Shannon, steam
I see from the blatts that there are
Fears over future of Narrow Water bridge project
and that
Planning permission for development at Carlingford Lough due to expire in October.
This is encouraging: I hope that the planning permission will be allowed to expire, unmourned by anyone, and that the project will be buried at the crossroads with a stake through its heart.
Like the Clones Sheugh, this scheme put symbolism over practicality and usefulness. It would require motorists from the south to drive to the middle of nowhere to cross the Newry River, when what is needed is an eastern bypass of Newry. Those living towards the eastern end of Carlingford Lough would be better served by a ferry, and I see that such a service is now proposed, to run between Greenore and Greencastle.
The only possible justification for the proposed bridge would be to build it without access roads, name it Garvaghy Road and allow — nay, sentence — Orange Order members to march up and down it in perpetuity.
Posted in Ashore, Economic activities, Engineering and construction, Extant waterways, Foreign parts, Ireland, Irish inland waterways vessels, Modern matters, Non-waterway, Operations, Passenger traffic, Politics, Sea, Tourism, Ulster Canal, waterways
Tagged border, bridge, bypass, Carlingford, ferry, Garvaghy Road, Greencastle, Greenore, Narrow Water, Newry, Orange Order, river
The current issue of the Railway & Canal Historical Society‘s Journal contains an article on the sinking of the passage boat Longford on the Royal Canal in 1845 and the fifteen deaths that resulted. The story has also been told here, starting from this page.
While running trip-boats has not always been the way to wealth on Irish waterways, we must always be alert to new business opportunities arising from changing circumstances. Brexit, the impending departure of HM Realm from the European Union may offer one such opportunity for a tourism-related business on the Shannon–Erne Waterway, perhaps around Aghalane.
The old bridge at Aghalane (OSI ~1840)
Here, scenic boat trips could be provided. Of course not everybody likes long boat trips, so there could be a market for short trips, perhaps from one side of the Woodford River (which here constitutes the Shannon–Erne Waterway) to the other.
The new bridge at Aghalane
Such trips could feature in package tours, including flights into Ireland, accommodation and leisure activities. But the Irish tourism board (whatever it’s called nowadays) needs to open up new markets: these tours might be attractive to our fellow-EU citizens from Eastern Europe.
There is another possibility for development here, combining economic growth with humanitarianism. Ireland could offer to open refugee camps in the area, thus sharing the burden with Calais, Greece, Italy and other places currently accommodating these unfortunates. This would not be entirely selfless: there would be a stimulus to the local economy from the construction and operation of the camps. Should demand for camps along waterways exceed supply, the re-opening of the Clones Sheugh could be considered.
I regret that the north side of the river is blank on the modern OSI map; that area is part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Posted in Ashore, Built heritage, Drainage, Economic activities, Engineering and construction, Extant waterways, Foreign parts, Historical matters, Industrial heritage, Ireland, Modern matters, Non-waterway, Operations, Passenger traffic, Politics, Restoration and rebuilding, Sea, Tourism, Ulster Canal, waterways, Waterways management
Tagged Aghalane, brexit, bridge, Clones sheugh, Northern Ireland, OSI, refugee, Shannon–Erne Waterway, tourism, Woodford River
No need for horses or mules. Those Volga chaps were clearly wimps.
I note that Mr “Savkin dedicated his incredible achievement to Russian President Vladimir Putin”, the Leader of the Free World.
Posted in Foreign parts, Operations, People
From 26 June through 1 September 2017, ESB will be providing guided tours of Ardnacrusha hydroelectric power station. It’s not usually open to the public and, if you haven’t seen it, it’s well worth a visit. Go here to book.
I have some information about the site here, here and here, but you should try to see it for yourself.
Richard North (the knowledgeable Brexiteer) says:
Observing the more than usually lugubrious Prince Charles alongside his mother, yesterday, one could only marvel at the Queen’s modernity in celebrating “bring your child to work” day.
Pic at the link.
According to the Heritage Boat Association, the steamer Ferry King was built in 1918 by Camper and Nicholson and operated by the Gosport and Portsea Steam Launch Association until 1955. It was then sold to the Solent Boating Company, fitted with a Gardner diesel and renamed Solent Queen. In 1985 it was sold to Waterford owners, renamed Crystal Rose and operated as a cruising bar and disco on the Barrow, Nore and Suir estuaries. Grounded and abandoned some time later, it was bought in 2005 and berthed at Ballinagoth Quay on the River Nore, where restoration work began.
Ferry King in 2009: view from the bow
Ferry King in 2009: view from the stern
Ferry King in 2009: steelwork in progress
Ferry King in 2009: portholes
Ferry King in 2009: stern
Ferry King in 2009: rear deck
On 18 April 2017, Kilkenny County Council published this notice:
Notice of Intention to Remove and Dispose of a Wreck situated at Ballinagoth Quay, Ballinagoth, County Kilkenny0
KILKENNY COUNTY COUNCIL
Section 52 Merchant Shipping (Salvage and Wreck) Act 1993
NOTICE OF INTENTION TO REMOVE AND DISPOSE OF A WRECK
Re:- “The Ferry King”, situated at Ballinagoth Quay, Ballinagoth, County Kilkenny.
WHEREAS: Kilkenny County Council is the local authority for the County of Kilkenny (hereinafter called “The Council”)
AND WHEREAS: There is located at Ballinagoth Quay, Ballinagoth, County Kilkenny a vessel known as “The Ferry King” (hereinafter called “the Wreck”) which the Council is of the view constitutes a wreck for the purpose of the Merchant Shipping (Salvage and Wreck) Act 1993 (hereinafter called “the Act”)
AND WHEREAS: The Council is of the opinion that the Wreck constitutes a threat of harm to the marine environment or to related interests (as defined in the Act)
NOW TAKE NOTICE that the Council, after the lapse of thirty days from the date of this Notice, intend to take, do the following:
- Take possession of the Wreck and remove the Wreck from Ballinagoth Quay,
- Sell or otherwise dispose of the Wreck,
- Retain out of the proceeds of sale the expenses incurred by the Council in relation to the removal of the Wreck.
Dated this 18th day of April 2017
Tim Butler
———————————————–
For and on behalf of Kilkenny County Council
County Hall,
John Street,
Kilkenny.
According to the Kilkenny People,
‘The Ferry King’ is in poor condition and has remained at the quay for more than a decade now. Local councillor Michael Doyle has raised the issue on a number of occasions, saying that the vessel had become unsightly, as well as a health and safety problem.
The article linked within that quotation did not mention either Ballinagoth or Ferry King, so it may be about a different vessel.
I asked Kilkenny County Council whether the vessel was actually removed 30 days after 18 April. I was told that letters have gone out today seeking tenders for its removal, so Ferry King is still there.
Posted in Ashore, Engineering and construction, Extant waterways, Foreign parts, Forgotten navigations, Historical matters, Ireland, Irish inland waterways vessels, Modern matters, Operations, Passenger traffic, People, Politics, Restoration and rebuilding, waterways, Waterways management
Tagged Ballinagoth, Barrow, Crystal Rose, Ferry King, heritage boat, Inistiogue, Kilkenny County Council, Nore, Rathsnagadan, Solent Queen, Suir, Waterford
