Tag Archives: Ireland

2²B or not 2²B?

Approaching Dromineer

Lartigue

I’ve just changed the link on my Lartigue Monorail website to link to their new, more elegant web pages rather than the old. I’m giving both here just in case the new changes to the old …. Well worth visiting, the Lartigue.

The disappearance of the Erne Canal

In February 2011 I provided a link to a website about the most insane inland waterway ever proposed in Ireland (at least in recent years: watch this space!), the “Erne Canal” that was to link Belleek to Ballyshannon and the Atlantic. The website seems to have disappeared or died, perhaps reflecting an outbreak of post-tigerian realism amongst the enthusiasts for northsouthery. But if it reappears, perhaps someone will let me know. I have copies of the various documents that were downloadable from the site.

Some hours later: I spoke too soon. See Comments below: the site is back up. Perhaps it was a temporary glitch on tinterweb.

The proposal is still insane, though.

Barge sinks on Lough Derg

Killaloe Coast Guard story here.

Rowing to Dublin …

… to visit King Dan.

In prison.

From Kerry, via the Grand Canal.

Killaloe

The installation of the new pontoon, the flood control gates (flash lock) and the walkway continues apace.

Walkway (left) and pontoon from the lockhouse

The lower (nearer) section of pontoon may be for the lakeboat hire business

Boats mooring on the lower end of the pontoon, and turning to approach upstream, may get quite close to the bridge. The navigation markers may confuse too: perhaps they’ll be relocated.

The flood control gates (flash lock?)

From upstream (and uphill)

It all looks very nice. There are lots of people working on site.

Alliance Party (NI) backs Ulster Canal

From the party’s 2011 manifesto:

Inland waterways and fisheries
Alliance calls for recognition of the needs to sustainably develop our inland waterways and fisheries – protecting and enhancing their bio-diversity while at the same time developing their recreational and leisure potential.

Alliance supports the regeneration and development of our inland waterways system, including the re-opening of the Ulster Canal. We recognise that funding needs to be explored on a partnership basis with interested bodies.

Alliance believes that improving water quality, including the revision of pollution controls, and appropriate planning measures are priorities for the effective and efficient management of inland waterways, recreational angling and commercial fisheries. We believe that increased co-operation between angling organisations and other environmental bodies would be beneficial, for example in meeting the challenge of biodiversity.

Alliance is committed to supporting the work of the North/South Body on Inland Waterways, to ensure a co-ordinated approach in border areas and to develop their potential throughout both areas.

Need a project?

Waterways Ireland intends to remove some sunken boats from the Grand Canal at Shannon Harbour. The wooden boats will be broken up and sent to landfill; the steel and GRP boats will be sold off. Perhaps, if anyone were interested (and rich) enough, WI would sell one of the wooden boats to be restored.

I can’t find the notice on WI’s own website; here it is on the Afloat site.

Here are pics of the wooden boats.

Béal na Bláth, 7m wooden cruiser

Béal na Bláth in June 2009

No Name

Described as “Wooden Cabin Cruiser (Green) South Bank East of Griffith Bridge 7m”. Could this be the one they mean?

Unidentified green-hulled cruiser in June 2009

Paloma

Paloma under way in 2003

Paloma in Shannon Harbour in June 2009

More about Paloma here.

Clontarf to Clondra II

Maark Gleeson of Clontarf Yacht & Boat Club has kindly given me details of the Club’s recent trip along the Royal, with notes on the time taken and some useful advice, especially about the tides in Dublin.

Keeping Galway dry

A page about the ESB pumping stations on the embankments above Portumna.