If you’re not already a reader of Barge Hawthorn’s blog, may I suggest that you start now? The account of the descent into Dublin along the Royal Canal, over three days, features mounting tension, a really superb photo of the M50 aqueduct and a happy ending when Effin Bridge lifted when required.
You can work your way backwards through earlier posts to find the how and the why.
Posted in Built heritage, Engineering and construction, Extant waterways, Industrial heritage, Ireland, Irish inland waterways vessels, Operations, People, Rail, Restoration and rebuilding, waterways, Waterways management
Tagged Ashtown, barge Hawthorn, boats, bridge, canal, Dublin, Effin Bridge, Ireland, M50, Royal Canal, vessels, Waterways Ireland
… but surely floe, not flow?
… it’s raining.
Here is a page about feeders to the Royal Canal. My confidence in the accuracy of this list is low, so comments would be welcome.
Posted in Ashore, Built heritage, Drainage, Economic activities, Engineering and construction, Extant waterways, Industrial heritage, Ireland, Irish waterways general, Operations, Sources, waterways, Waterways management, Weather
Tagged Ballynacargy, Balroe, Baltrasna, bridge, canal, Dublin, feeder, Ferns, Ferrans, Inny, Ireland, Kilcock, lock, Lough Ennell, Lough Owel, Mullingar, Operations, Pig's Nostril, Riverstown, Royal Canal, Ryewater, Saunders, Scally, Thomastown, water level, water supply, waterways, Waterways Ireland
Here is a page about the feeders that supplied water to the Grand Canal. There will soon be a page about the Royal Canal feeders; these will lead to an examination of the current and proposed supply of water to the Royal.
Posted in Ashore, Built heritage, Drainage, Economic activities, Engineering and construction, Extant waterways, Forgotten navigations, Industrial heritage, Ireland, Irish waterways general, Operations, Sources, waterways, Waterways management, Weather
Tagged . Clondalkin, Annanough, Athy, Ballinure, Ballycowan, Ballymullen, Barrow, Blackwood, Bonynge, bridge, Burgh, canal, Corbally, Corcoran, Courtwood, Daingean, Derrybrook, Derrycooley, Dublin, Edenderry, Feighcullen, Fisherstown, Fox and Geese, Glenaree, Grand Canal, Grattan, Herbertstown, Ireland, Kilbeggan, Killeen, Killina, Kilnacash, Kylemore, Leinster Aqueduct, Liffey, Lough Boora, Lowtown, Morrell, Mount Prospect, Mount Rice, Mountmellick, Mylerstown, Naas, Newtown, Oldtown, Operations, Philipstown, Pluckerstown, Pollagh, Pollardsstown, Portarlington, Prosperous, Rathangan, Rathaskea, Rhode, Robertstown, Sallins, Shannon, Shannon Harbour, Slate River, Toberdaly, Tullamore, Turraun, Vicarstown, waterways, Waterways Ireland, White Eye, Whiteeye, Woodbrook, Yellow River
Here are some thoughts on risk management for waterways authorities, marine insurers and boat-owners.
The summit level of the Royal Canal has been closed until further notice because of shortage of water and the 34th and 35th levels have been closed until 20 April for emergency repairs. Marine Notices here, along with a general waarning about low water levels.
Met Éireann’s Monthly Summary for March 2012 [PDF] says:
Rainfall totals were relatively low for the time of year, with percentage of normal values below 50% in most locations. Mullingar [which is on the summit level of the Royal Canal] reported its driest March since 1961 (51 years), while most other stations reported their driest March in at least 7 years. Number of wet days recorded (days with 1 mm or more) was below average everywhere, with most stations measuring their lowest March maximum daily rainfall in seven to 39 years.
Can we have our normal weather back please? Or will that be coming in the “summer” months?
Posted in Drainage, Economic activities, Engineering and construction, Extant waterways, Forgotten navigations, Industrial heritage, Ireland, Irish inland waterways vessels, Irish waterways general, Natural heritage, Operations, Restoration and rebuilding, Waterways management, Weather
Tagged canal, Ireland, Mullingar, rain, Royal Canal, waterways, Waterways Ireland, weather
Statement from Lowtown Marine here.
Posted in Ashore, Built heritage, Economic activities, Engineering and construction, Extant waterways, Industrial heritage, Ireland, Irish waterways general, Operations, People, Politics, Sources, waterways, Waterways management
Tagged Barrow, boats, bridge, canal, Grand Canal, Ireland, Lowtown, Operations, waterways, Waterways Ireland
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.
Irish waterways history