[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
WI’s funds haven’t altogether run out: it’s looking for contractors to dredge the Circular Line of the Grand Canal between Suir Road and Portobello, and to do so to the “original bed level”. That will be welcomed by boaters. Details here.
The Irish Times has a report here.
The Dublin People has the story.
Don’t those fluorescent colours look disgusting? Enough to give you a headache. Bring back the gas works, say I: at least they could cure whooping cough.
Posted in Ashore, Built heritage, Economic activities, Engineering and construction, Extant waterways, Industrial heritage, Ireland, Operations, People, Politics, Restoration and rebuilding, The turf trade, Water sports activities, waterways, Waterways management
Tagged boats, bridge, canal, Dublin, Grand Canal, Ireland, moorings, Operations, vessels, waterways, Waterways Ireland
From the Freeman’s Journal of 5 December 1833:
The Broadstone, from The Tourist’s Illustrated Hand-Book for Ireland 3rd ed David Bryce, London 1854
UNPRECEDENTED SPEED ATTAINED IN TRAVELLING UPON THE ROYAL CANAL
The Court of Directors of the Royal Canal hereby give Notice, that the present Day-Boat will cease running on Friday, the 6th, and that an Iron-Boat, capable of conveying Seventy Passengers, will leave the Broadstone harbour, at Nine o’Clock, on the Morning of Saturday, the 7th inst, for Mullingar, where it will arrive at Five o’Clock in the Evening; and Notice is further given, that at Nine o’Clock upon each Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, a Boat will leave Dublin for Mullingar, and return from thence at the same hour upon Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. By the foregoing arrangement a saving of three hours and a half will be effected. The Night-Boat will, for the present, continue to leave Dublin for Longford, each day, at Two o’Clock, and a Boat will depart from thence, for Dublin, each Morning, at Eleven o’Clock.
By Order,
SAMUEL DRAPER, Secretary.
Royal Canal-house, 2d Dec., 1833.
The curved building in March 2011 …
… and in May 2012
No sign of any improvement or of anything done to protect the building.
Irish waterways history 