… is paddling from Maynooth on the Royal Canal to the Shannon, down the river (and across Lough Ree) to Shannon Harbour, eastward along the Grand Canal and then (in May, during the IWAI Dublin Rally) into Dublin, across the Liffey and back to Maynooth. He is raising money for the Irish Hospice Foundation.
Here he is on Tuesday 3 April 2012 at the stop-lock near Edenderry on the Grand, heading towards Dublin.
You can donate to the Hospice Foundation here.
Posted in Economic activities, Extant waterways, Ireland, People, waterways
Tagged boats, canal, Edenderry, Grand Canal, Ireland, Royal Canal, Seamus McDonnell, Shannon, stop-lock, waterways
Nobody has attempted to identify this quay, so the competition is now closed and I’ll drink the sherry myself.
It is, of course, the downstream quay at Clarecastle at the head of the Fergus Navigation.
Clarecastle downstream
Here is the upstream quay, just around the corner.
Clarecastle upstream
The upstream quay bears the following inscription.
Inscription at Clarecastle
I really must return and get a better photo when it’s less slippy. Note that, although this is on tidal waters, Thomas Rhodes was the engineer.
Did you know that Clarecastle still has its own port authority? Go to this excellent pub and ask John Power about it. His brother (Dr Joe) wrote the definitive history of Clarecastle. John has lots of interesting old photos and maps on display in a really good traditional pub. He’s got a facetweet thingie too.
Posted in Ashore, Built heritage, Charles Wye Williams, Economic activities, Engineering and construction, Extant waterways, Forgotten navigations, Industrial heritage, Ireland, Operations, People, Politics, Shannon, shannon estuary, Sources, Steamers, The cattle trade, waterways, Waterways management
Tagged boats, Clarecastle, Commissioners, estuary, Fergus, Ireland, Operations, quay, Shannon, Thomas Rhodes, vessels, Waterways Ireland
Upward-only rent reviews seem like one of the more insane inventions of recent years. But I suppose that, if you’re the landlord, they’re a Good Thing. So what are the ten marinas that have UORR leases from Waterways Ireland? Answers on a postcard please ….
h/t Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein), who brought this interesting waterways issue to light.
A quay on a tributary of the Shannon, with reeds in the foreground.
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.
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
Tagged boats, canal, Erne, Grand Canal, Ireland, Lough Derg, Operations, Royal Canal, Shannon, vessels, water level, waterways, Waterways Ireland, workboat
Irish waterways history 