Tag Archives: canal

Lowtown

Posted on Friday 30 March 2012 | Leave a comment

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.

 

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Posted in Ashore, Economic activities, Engineering and construction, Extant waterways, Ireland, Irish inland waterways vessels, Operations, Politics, waterways, Waterways management

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On the occasion of Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee …

Posted on Tuesday 20 March 2012 | Leave a comment

… (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.

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Posted in Ashore, Built heritage, Extant waterways, Foreign parts, Forgotten navigations, Industrial heritage, Ireland, Irish inland waterways vessels, Natural heritage, Operations, People, Politics, Scenery, Sources, Tourism, Water sports activities, waterways, Weather

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Waterways trees

Posted on Tuesday 20 March 2012 | 4 comments

Nama to Nature has been planting trees at Keshcarrigan on the Shannon–Erne Waterway, along which far too many developers wanted to sell houses that would have fast boats parked outside. I don’t know whether my photo shows the Waterways estate or a different one.

Keshcarrigan September 2011

 

h/t Ireland after NAMA.

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Posted in Ashore, Built heritage, Drainage, Economic activities, Engineering and construction, Extant waterways, Ireland, Irish waterways general, Natural heritage, Non-waterway, Politics, Restoration and rebuilding, Scenery, Tourism, Water sports activities, waterways, Waterways management

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Weld eggs …

Posted on Saturday 17 March 2012 | Leave a comment

… on the Royal Canal.

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Posted in Ashore, Charles Wye Williams, Economic activities, Extant waterways, Industrial heritage, Ireland, Irish inland waterways vessels, Operations, People, Shannon, Sources, Steamers, The cattle trade, waterways

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Thomas Omer in Athlone

Posted on Friday 16 March 2012 | Leave a comment

Here is a new page showing the route of the old canal in Athlone, which was used before the Shannon Commissioners built the new lock, weir and bridge in the 1840s. The canal is easily accessible along most of its route, although some explanatory signs might be useful to call attention to notable features.

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Posted in Built heritage, Charles Wye Williams, Economic activities, Engineering and construction, Forgotten navigations, Industrial heritage, Ireland, People, Rail, Shannon, Sources, Steamers, The cattle trade, Tourism, waterways, Waterways management

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Weed

Posted on Thursday 15 March 2012 | Leave a comment

I said recently that the water level on Lough Derg was low, as a result of a dry winter. Barge Hawthorn now reports that the weir at Clondra (Cloondara) is dry and Waterways Ireland has now issued a Marine Notice (23/2012: not yet on the WI website, but it may be there by the time you check) saying:

Waterways Ireland wishes to advise all masters and users of the Erne System that following a period of dry weather the water levels on Lower Lough Erne are below those normally experienced at this time of year.

WI Conver weed boat (and dinghy) in dry dock at Shannon Harbour

Reliable and authoritative sources tell me that the water levels in themselves are not the only problem. The dry, warm winter is likely to encourage the growth of weed, especially on the shallower waterways, including the canals and Upper Lough Erne. It seems that chemical methods can no longer be used so mechanical cutting and harvesting is the only method available. That means machinery and manpower. And with reduced resources, it’s going to be hard to keep the weeds down.

It may be wise to practise a rain dance.

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Posted in Economic activities, Engineering and construction, Extant waterways, Ireland, Irish inland waterways vessels, Irish waterways general, Natural heritage, Operations, People, Sources, waterways, Waterways management, Weather

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Support the Clones Canal

Posted on Wednesday 14 March 2012 | Leave a comment

It was suggested to me today that, because some boating organisations want the Clones Canal, the project must be worthy of support. I find that argument less than convincing. If I offer someone the benefit of a sum of money, without charge, I will not be surprised if that person likes the idea — but that won’t show that it’s a good deal for whoever bears the cost.

In this case, owners of boats are being offered the benefit of €45 million, so it’s not surprising that they like the idea. But I think they should be offered a practical method of demonstrating the depth of their support.

Accordingly, I propose that owners of registered boats on  the Shannon and the Erne be offered the opportunity to pay half the €45 million cost (the other half could be raised from a levy on the publicans of Clones, the other main beneficiaries). If there are 10,000 boats, the charge per owner, spread over three years, would be no more than €750 a year. Willingness to pay would provide more convincing evidence of support and would also make the project better value for the taxpayer.

 

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Posted in Ashore, Built heritage, Economic activities, Engineering and construction, Foreign parts, Forgotten navigations, Industrial heritage, Ireland, Operations, Politics, Restoration and rebuilding, Tourism, Ulster Canal, Uncategorized, waterways, Waterways management

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More on WI’s non-houseboat policy

Posted on Sunday 11 March 2012 | Leave a comment

A year ago, in March 2011, I wrote about Waterways Ireland’s attempt to reorganise the liveaboard boats on the Grand Canal at Sallins. That attempt ultimately failed, and WI’s provision of houseboat moorings at Shannon Harbour was likewise unsuccessful: usually reliable sources tell me that two spaces have been allocated, but to non-residential boats.

Amongst the concentrations of boats parked on the Grand Canal (most of them disregarding the five-day rule), the proportions of residential boats are [I think: I know of no reliable statistics] higher at Hazelhatch and Sallins, both at the eastern end, rather lower at Lowtown and lowest at Tullamore and Shannon Harbour.

It seems that WI’s focus has shifted away from the residential boats, which it tried to tackle last year, to the non-residential boats: it has recently issued Marine Notices warning that the five-day rule will be enforced at hard-edged [ie the best] moorings on Tullamore’s “spur line” and between the 35th Lock and Griffith Bridge at Shannon Harbour. However, no notices have so far been issued about Lowtown, Sallins or Hazelhatch.

I think WI is right to separate the residential issue from the parking, but it will be interesting to see what is planned for the eastern end of the canal.

Incidentally, all of this smacks of Kremlinology, trying to deduce policy positions from minor clues, and is necessarily speculative. It would be really nice if WI published policy proposals on its website, invited comments and then formally promulgated the final policies.

 

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Posted in Economic activities, Extant waterways, Ireland, Irish inland waterways vessels, Irish waterways general, Operations, Sources, Tourism, waterways, Waterways management

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A waterway for everyone in the audience

Posted on Friday 9 March 2012 | Leave a comment

My attention has been drawn to this Dáil written question by Joan Burton TD (Dublin West, Labour) and the answer by Éamon Ó Cuív TD (Minister, Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs; Galway West, Fianna Fail).

The layout on the kildarestreet site is not perfect, so I reproduce some of the list here:

The following are the details requested by the Deputy in respect of non-navigable stretches of canals that are within the control of Waterways Ireland and are being or could be restored:

Grand Canal

  • Kilbeggan Branch (8.2 miles long) in Co. Offaly and Co. Westmeath
  • Part of Naas & Corbally Branch (Corbally Extension) (4.4 miles long) in Co. Kildare
  • Barrow Line Part of Mountmellick Branch (0.25 miles long) in Co. Kildare (remaining 11 miles filled in).

Royal Canal

  • Part of Royal Canal (11 miles long) in Co. Longford, currently under restoration
  • Longford Branch (3 miles long) in Co. Longford.

The Royal Canal main line is currently under restoration and the remaining work necessary to return it to full navigation between Dublin and the Shannon is due for completion in 2010.

Ulster Canal

  • 46 miles long in Co. Cavan, Co. Monaghan, Co. Fermanagh and Co. Armagh.

Approval has been given to Waterways Ireland to restore the stretch between Lough Erne and Clones. Present indications are that this stretch could be re-opened by 2013.

And (perhaps because the economy was so successful) we could have waterways everywhere:

It is intended, subject to availability of resources, to carry out feasibility studies and preliminary designs in relation to the Longford Branch, the Kilbeggan Branch and the Corbally Extension, along with extensions to Annagh Upper near Dowra on the Shannon Navigation and to Lough Oughter on the Erne System with a view to possible re-opening. Consideration will also be given to the carrying out of preliminary analysis and assessment of the Mountmellick Branch, as well as the Boyne Navigation (which is primarily a river navigation) and the extension towards Mohill on the Rinn River, as future possibilities for restoration.

“The Irish economy entered severe recession in 2008,” according to Wikipedia’s useful summary of the financial crisis, but Craggy Island (nach maireann, comme on dit) still hoped to drag Ireland into the Canal Age.

 

 

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Posted in Built heritage, Economic activities, Engineering and construction, Extant waterways, Forgotten navigations, Industrial heritage, Ireland, Operations, People, Politics, Restoration and rebuilding, Tourism, Ulster Canal, waterways, Waterways management

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How much Dáil time …

Posted on Thursday 8 March 2012 | Leave a comment

… is wasted in asking and answering questions over and over again? I’d have thought that Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) would have realised that the government has discovered neither oil nor a crock of gold and that there is no money for a canal to Clones. The task of finding some is to be delegated to an “inter-agency group”, poor dears. I’d have thought it might be better to give the job to people with experience of unconventional fund-raising; there must be some such people around.

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

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