Tag Archives: turf

Garryowen and Dover Castle

Posted on Wednesday 11 May 2011 | Leave a comment

In 1840 the rival steamers Dover Castle and Garryowen competed for traffic on the Shannon Estuary. While I know of no pictures of the steamers (if you know of any, please let me know), we have a reasonable amount of information about their operations. I discuss some aspects of those operations here. For an explanation of the page title, see here, but do not be diverted down this byway.

Leave a comment

Posted in Built heritage, Charles Wye Williams, Economic activities, Engineering and construction, Extant waterways, Forgotten navigations, Industrial heritage, Irish inland waterways vessels, Operations, People, Scenery, shannon estuary, Sources, Steamers, The cattle trade, The turf trade, Tourism, Water sports activities, Waterways management

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Sailing in Athlone

Posted on Tuesday 10 May 2011 | Leave a comment

Athlone, from The Tourist's Illustrated Hand-Book for Ireland 3rd ed David Bryce, London 1854

Leave a comment

Posted in Ashore, Built heritage, Economic activities, Extant waterways, Industrial heritage, Irish inland waterways vessels, Operations, People, Sources, The turf trade, Tourism

Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

The Broadstone pontoon

Posted on Tuesday 10 May 2011 | Leave a comment

On my page about the Broadstone Line of the Royal Canal, I say this:

In 1845, the Midland Great Western Railway Company (MGWR) bought the Royal Canal. Doing so allowed it to run its lines beside the canal, which it did most of the way to Mullingar, without having to conduct lengthy negotiations about wayleaves with individual landowners. The company built a terminus at the Broadstone, with a pontoon bridge (which was moved out of the way when boats entered or left the harbour) to provide passengers with access to the station.

I have found a picture of the arrangement. Here it is.

The Broadstone, from The Tourist's Illustrated Hand-Book for Ireland 3rd ed David Bryce, London 1854

The pontoon looks rather solid, but there is a canal-boat heading for it and the canal clearly continues on the far side.

I have added the pic to the Broadstone page.

Leave a comment

Posted in Ashore, Built heritage, Economic activities, Engineering and construction, Forgotten navigations, Industrial heritage, Irish inland waterways vessels, Non-waterway, Operations, Rail, The turf trade, Tourism, Waterways management

Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,

Canals and labour history

Posted on Thursday 28 April 2011 | Leave a comment

The building and the use of Irish inland waterways, by navvies and boatmen respectively, will be discussed at the May Day Labour History School, to be held at Athy Community Arts Centre on Saturday 30 April 2011. The events of the day (copied from here):

12pm-4.00pm: photographic exhibition commemorating the workers who built the canals and the boatmen who transported the goods throughout the canal network.

2pm-2.15pm: Official Opening of the Festival by the Mayor of Athy

2.15pm-4.00pm: series of talks examining the socio-economic and cultural impact that the opening of the canals had on provincial life. The typical life of the early navvies and boatmen will be brought to life, and the struggle for improvement in conditions leading to early Trade Union formation will also be explored.

8.00pm: A concert of Labour and Workers’ songs, featuring two of Dublin’s well-known balladeers, Tom Crean and Jimmy Kelly. The concert will be preceded by a Wine Reception at 7.30pm.

More details of the weekend here or here (PDF). I wouldn’t bother trying the SIPTU site: I couldn’t find the info there.

Leave a comment

Posted in Ashore, Built heritage, Economic activities, Engineering and construction, Extant waterways, Industrial heritage, Irish inland waterways vessels, Irish waterways general, Operations, People, Politics, Waterways management

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Not at all boring

Posted on Friday 1 April 2011 | Leave a comment

A Shannon Commissioners quay that is not at all boring. Shipbuilding,
barges, mud: what’s not to like?

Leave a comment

Posted in Ashore, Built heritage, Charles Wye Williams, Economic activities, Engineering and construction, Extant waterways, Forgotten navigations, Industrial heritage, Irish inland waterways vessels, Irish waterways general, Operations, People, Restoration and rebuilding, shannon estuary, Steamers, The cattle trade, Waterways management

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Somebody bet on the Beagh

Posted on Wednesday 30 March 2011 | Leave a comment

A quay on the south side of the Shannon Estuary, with bollards from the H Lee foundry and with a castle for sale. Pics taken on a grey day, just right for a muddy estuary ….

Leave a comment

Posted in Ashore, Built heritage, Engineering and construction, Extant waterways, Forgotten navigations, Industrial heritage, Irish waterways general, Operations, Scenery, shannon estuary, Steamers, Tourism, Water sports activities, Weather

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Shannon hooker

Posted on Wednesday 23 March 2011 | Leave a comment

No, not a rugby player, but a replica of one of the Shannon estuary workboats — the Massey Fergusons of their day — that carried turf towards Limerick and limestone back, as well as anything else that needed shifting further, or in larger quantities, than the canoes could manage.

The boat is being built at Querrin; see this article in the Irish Times.

Leave a comment

Posted in Ashore, Built heritage, Economic activities, Engineering and construction, Extant waterways, Industrial heritage, Irish inland waterways vessels, Operations, Restoration and rebuilding, shannon estuary, The turf trade

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Who built the quay at Kildysart?

Posted on Monday 21 March 2011 | Leave a comment

The Shannon Commissioners didn’t, but who did? Read about it here. Topics covered include a quad bike, a gandalow and a mausoleum.

Leave a comment

Posted in Ashore, Built heritage, Economic activities, Engineering and construction, Extant waterways, Forgotten navigations, Industrial heritage, Operations, shannon estuary, Steamers, The cattle trade, Waterways management

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Location

Posted on Wednesday 16 March 2011 | Leave a comment

Page 84 of Ruth Delany’s The Shannon Navigation (Lilliput Press 2008) has a drawing with this caption:

A drawing by Edward Jones which it is thought might depict the Shannon Commission’s survey in progress at an unidentified location possibly down the Shannon Estuary. (Courtesy of the Society of Antiquaries of London)

I suggest that the drawing is of Saleen, on the Ballylongford Creek in Co Kerry, on the lower reaches of the Shannon Estuary. The first word written on the  drawing looks like “Sawline”, which might be a version of “Saleen”.

Leave a comment

Posted in Ashore, Built heritage, Economic activities, Engineering and construction, Extant waterways, Forgotten navigations, Industrial heritage, Operations, People, Scenery, shannon estuary, Sources, The turf trade, Waterways management

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Dublin saunter

Posted on Tuesday 15 March 2011 | Leave a comment

I’ve made some changes to my pages about (parts of) the waterways in Dublin. Essentially, I’ve suggested a walking route that would take you:

  • from Connolly Station to Newcomen Bridge and Lock 1 on the Royal Canal, then up the Royal as far as Lock 5 (with possibilities for refreshment)
  • back a bit to the junction with the abandoned Broadstone Line, then down that line to Constitution Hill
  • from there to the Liffey quays, with some thoughts on the Guinness Liffey barges, then up Steevens Lane and James’s Street to Echlin Street and the filled-in Grand Canal Harbour
  • around the harbour before ending in the Guinness Storehouse.

More information here or go directly to this page.

Leave a comment

Posted in Ashore, Built heritage, Economic activities, Engineering and construction, Extant waterways, Forgotten navigations, Industrial heritage, Irish inland waterways vessels, Operations, People, Rail, Tourism, Waterways management

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,