A number of questions have been repeatedly posed since the initial communications about the Canal Bye-law Enforcement. These are listed below in the following categories. Click on the category to access the questions and answers.
Five downloadable PDFs on
Posted in Ashore, Built heritage, Economic activities, Engineering and construction, Extant waterways, Industrial heritage, Ireland, Irish inland waterways vessels, Irish waterways general, Operations, People, Politics, Sources, Tourism, waterways, Waterways management
Tagged Barrow, Barrow Line, boats, bridge, bye-laws, canal, canals, Dublin, enforcement, extended mooring locations, Grand Canal, Inspector of Navigation, Ireland, Operations, Royal Canal, Shannon, waterways, Waterways Ireland
EML? Extended Mooring Locations. Lots more info from WI here including a map and list of locations to be EMLed in 2012/13 and PDF maps for each of the locations currently being done.
A big shout out for whoever in WI has taken charge of using the website to keep folk informed: there has been a noticeable, and welcome, increase in the amount of information being made available.
Posted in Ashore, Built heritage, Economic activities, Engineering and construction, Extant waterways, Ireland, Irish inland waterways vessels, Irish waterways general, Operations, People, Restoration and rebuilding, Sources, waterways, Waterways management
Tagged Barrow, Barrow Line, boats, bridge, canal, Dublin, Grand Canal, Ireland, moorings, Operations, plans, waterways, Waterways Ireland
A Waterways Ireland press release has winged its way to my desk. If you want a permit (or licence?) you must provide a copy of your insurance and pay a damage deposit.
The full thing:
Waterways Ireland announced in June 2012 a change in the permit system allowing for year-long mooring permits on the Grand & Royal Canal and Barrow Navigation. The full list of Extended Mooring Locations has been published and is available on www.waterwaysireland.org, in the Canal Bye-Law Enforcement section.
The first four [for certain values of four. bjg] locations where the permits for extended mooring are being opened for application are Shannon Harbour on the Grand Canal, Rathangan and Vicarstown on the Barrow Line and Barrow Navigation, Clondra (East of Richmond Harbour), Confey and the 15th lock on the Royal Canal.
The application process for the Extended Mooring Permit for these locations will open on the 19th November and will remain open for 2 weeks. Boat owners with boats in the four locations with Combined Mooring and Passage Permits will be advised by letter. The Application Form and Guidance Notes for all applicants will be placed on www.waterwaysireland.org. The applicant is required to complete an application form, supply a copy of their insurance, certify that the boat complies with the byelaws and pay the €152 fee and a damage deposit of €250.
Permits will be allocated on a first come first served basis, so to receive a preferred location early applications are advised. Applications will only be accepted from owners already holding a valid annual Combined Mooring and Passage Permit. Boat owners without a Combined Mooring & Passage Permit who wish to apply for an Extended Mooring Permit can do so by ticking the box on the Extended Mooring Application Form and supplying the additional fee.
Applicants will be notified within 28 days of the success of their application. Successful applicants will be required to sign the Extended Mooring Permit license and will then have a period in which to move to their new mooring. Enforcement of the 5 day rule will begin in this area following the issue of a Marine Notice.
Applications for the next set of Extended Mooring Locations will continue on a rolling basis thereafter with Waterways Ireland intention to open sufficient locations to cover demand on all of the canals by the end of March 2013.
Boats that cruise and move (staying at a mooring for up to 5 days) will not require an Extended Mooring Permit or be in breach of the Bye-laws.
Waterways Ireland will continue to contact permit holders regularly to ensure they are kept up to date with the roll-out of the new permit. All queries about the enforcement of the current bye-laws or the Extended Mooring Permit should be directed to Shane Anderson, Assistant Inspector of Navigation: Tel no +353 (0)87 286 5726, Email shane.anderson@waterwaysireland.org.
These changes are necessary steps to improve the management of the canals and waterway amenities for both the navigational and recreational user, so that investment in the new infrastructure and facilities which Waterways Ireland has undertaken is maximised for every user.
Despite asking them several times, I still don’t understand what WI means by “permit” and “licence”. And now we have a “Permit licence”.
Posted in Economic activities, Extant waterways, Ireland, Irish inland waterways vessels, Irish waterways general, Operations, Politics, Sources, waterways, Waterways management
Tagged 15th Lock, Barrow, Barrow Line, boats, canal, Clondra, deposit, Grand Canal, insurance, Ireland, licence, lock, Operations, permit, Rathangan, Richmond Harbour, Royal Canal, Shannon Harbour, vessels, Vicarstown, waterways, Waterways Ireland
I have been sent some photos of Athy dry dock and have added them to this page under the heading Grand Canal Barrow Line.
Posted in Ashore, Built heritage, Economic activities, Engineering and construction, Extant waterways, Industrial heritage, Ireland, Irish inland waterways vessels, Operations, Restoration and rebuilding, waterways, Waterways management
Tagged Athy, Barrow, Barrow Line, boats, canal, dry dock, Grand Canal, Ireland, Operations, vessels, waterways, workboat
Waterways Ireland issued two press releases about moorings today. The first was the usual one about winter moorings on the Shannon and the SEW; the second was about the canals. Here, unedited, is the text of the second.
Waterways Ireland announced in June 2012 that the Canal Bye-laws on the Grand & Royal Canal and Barrow Navigation are to be enforced from autumn 2012, with an accompanying change in the permit system allowing for year-long mooring permits and locations.
Part of bringing in this new location-based permit has been the identification of locations suitable for extended mooring. This process is now completed and work has begun in some areas to improve accessibility.
Waterways Ireland will roll out Extended Mooring Permit applications by area, rather than giving a date when applications for the permit will open. For boat owners this will mean that enforcement of the maximum stay rule will not commence in an area until after boat owners have had the opportunity to purchase an Extended Mooring Permit.
The initial 12 month Extended Mooring Permit will cost €152 and will only be available to boats already holding a valid annual Mooring and Passage Permit.
Boats that cruise and move (staying at a mooring for up to 5 days) will not be in breach of the Bye-laws or require an Extended Mooring Permit.
Waterways Ireland has proposed a small number of draft amendments to the current Bye-laws which date from 1988. These include proposals to provide a range of charges for mooring permits that reflect the location and services provided throughout the canals and also will take into account the size of boat. These proposals include low cost rural moorings on soft banks to ensure the canals are accessible for everyone who owns a boat and requires a mooring. Boat owners allocated an extended mooring location in key areas in villages or towns or with services should be aware that if the new Bye-laws are approved Waterways Ireland will increase the charges for moorings in the future to reflect the location, services, and size of boat.
Waterways Ireland recognises the current situation whereby a small number of boat owners use their boats as their sole or permanent residence. Proposals to make provision for this use of the navigation property have been included in the Bye-law changes.
Furthermore Waterways Ireland intends to work towards the provision of a small number of serviced house boat moorings on the canal network. Such provision will be subject to finance, land availability and compliance with requisite statutory approvals.
Waterways Ireland recognises that a transition period of a number of years will be required to implement this. In the interim these boat owners should apply for an Extended Mooring Permit.
The draft Bye Law amendments are currently being considered by Waterways Ireland’s sponsor Departments. When Waterways Ireland has Ministerial consent, it will proceed to public consultation on the proposed Bye-law amendments.
Waterways Ireland will continue to contact permit holders regularly to ensure they are kept up to date with the roll-out of the new permit. All queries about the enforcement of the current bye-laws or the Extended Mooring Permit should be directed to Shane Anderson, Assistant Inspector of Navigation: Tel no +353 (0)87 286 5726, Email shane.anderson@waterwaysireland.org . Queries about houseboats should be directed to Property & Legal Section Tel no +44 (0)28 6632 3004.
These changes are necessary steps to improve the management of the canals and waterway amenities for both the navigational and recreational user, so that investment in the new infrastructure and facilities which Waterways Ireland has undertaken is maximised for every user.
Posted in Built heritage, Economic activities, Engineering and construction, Extant waterways, Ireland, Irish inland waterways vessels, Operations, People, Politics, Sources, waterways, Waterways management
Tagged Barrow, boats, bridge, bye-laws, canal, department of arts heritage and the gaeltacht, Dublin, Grand Canal, Ireland, licence, lock, mooring, Operations, permit, Royal Canal, vessels, waterways, Waterways Ireland
Here is a brief account of a trip from Waterford to new Ross by steamer in 1842.
Posted in Economic activities, Extant waterways, Forgotten navigations, Industrial heritage, Ireland, Irish inland waterways vessels, Operations, People, Politics, Scenery, Steamers, Suir, Tourism, waterways
Tagged Barrow, boats, Cheekpoint, Daniel O'Connell, Dunbrody, Kohl, New Ross, Repeal, Repealer, steamer, Suir, Waterford, waterways
In February 2012 Waterways Ireland published a study of the River Barrow called The Barrow Corridor Recreational, Tourism and Commercial Product Identification Study. I’ve devoted a lot of time to the document and I confess that, although I’m in favour of WI’s conducting these studies, I found this one rather disappointing. The principal problem, as I see it, is that the document just doesn’t hang together: it is not clear how the recommendations derive from the analysis. I also thought that its recommendations on navigation were weak, suggesting a fundamental misunderstanding of the nature of the Barrow.
I haven’t finished putting my thoughts on the subject together because I want to do the study justice, but I have put up six pages about the report, linked from an overview page here. I need to give the navigation page a little more thought; when it’s finished I’ll link it to the overview page and mention the matter here.
Posted in Ashore, Built heritage, Economic activities, Engineering and construction, Extant waterways, Industrial heritage, Ireland, Irish inland waterways vessels, Natural heritage, Non-waterway, Operations, Politics, Restoration and rebuilding, Scenery, Steamers, Suir, waterways, Waterways management, Weather
Tagged Barrow, boats, canal, floods, flow, Grand Canal, Ireland, Nore, Suir, vessels, waterways, Waterways Ireland
I am to speak at Jamestown, near Carrick-on-Shannon in Co Leitrim, on Saturday 4 August 2012. Jamestown is having its heritage festival, and large numbers of old (converted) barges will be there. I will be giving one of four talks; mine is entitled
Down with barges: why cots were the really important vessels on Irish inland waterways.
I will be citing His Late Majesty Henry VIII, Fid Def, in support of my contention.
Here is some of the background to my thinking. If you would like to hear more, do come along on the day: the talks are open to all.
Posted in Economic activities, Extant waterways, Forgotten navigations, Industrial heritage, Ireland, Irish inland waterways vessels, Irish waterways general, Operations, People, Politics, Shannon, Sources, Suir, The cattle trade, The fishing trade, The turf trade, waterways, Waterways management
Tagged barges, Barrow, boats, cots, Erne, floods, Ireland, Kilrush, Limerick, Lough Derg, Lough Neagh, O'Briensbridge, Operations, Shannon, Suir, turf, vessels, waterways, workboat
One of the government’s proposed schemes for saving the economy is a bypass of New Ross:
The N25 New Ross Bypass will provide approximately 13.6 kilometres of new road from Glenmore at the eastern border of Kilkenny and crossing over the River Barrow via a new bridge into Wexford.
That means it will cross around here. You should be able to see Glenmore west of the Barrow. The crossing will be in the area of navigation under the authority of the New Ross Port Company.
The Sunday Business Post [paywall] reports that a British energy firm called SSE plc [formerly Scottish and Southern Energy plc], which already owns Airtricity, intends to buy Endesa Ireland. SSE’s press release is here.
Endesa owns the power stations at Tarbert, on the Shannon Estuary, and Great Island, at the junction of the Barrow and Suir estuaries; both are covered on this website. Endesa also owns a power station at Rhode, near the Grand Canal, and one in Co Mayo. It seems that SSE will also acquire options on sites at Lanesborough and Shannonbridge.
Posted in Ashore, Economic activities, Engineering and construction, Extant waterways, Industrial heritage, Ireland, Irish waterways general, shannon estuary, The turf trade, waterways
Tagged Barrow, Endesa, energy, Grand Canal, Great Island, Ireland, power station, Rhode, Shannon, SSE, Suir, Tarbert, turf, waterways
Irish waterways history