The iconic Four Pots structure located alongside the Grand Canal towpath between the Leinster Aqueduct and Digby Bridge in Co Kildare has been restored to its former glory thanks to an initiative involving Waterways Ireland and the Historic Structures Fund, which is administered by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

Built originally as an overflow, the Four Pots is the only remaining structure of its kind on the Island of Ireland and was constructed to facilitate the building of the Leinster Aqueduct, which was completed in 1783. Its purpose was to maintain canal water levels to facilitate the movement of vessels and discharge surplus water to a stream beyond the canal bank. Unfortunately, no records regarding the design, construction, or operation of the Four Pots remain, but research undertaken on related features and analysis of the site itself has allowed the system to be better understood, despite having not been used for its intended purpose for centuries.

The Four Pots structure prior to restoration

The project was an initiative of the Waterways Ireland Heritage Plan, which matched grant funding of €50,000 from the Historic Structures Fund (HSF). The HSF is a built heritage funding scheme administered by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage which works in partnership with property owners and the 31 local authorities to protect our built heritage by providing grant assistance to a wide range of heritage structures, including castles, churches, mills, and bridges.

Work first began on the recently completed project in late 2022 with conservation architects, ABGC and 7L Architects, and contractor, Oldstone Conservation Ltd.

Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan said: "It is wonderful to see the successful completion of this unique restoration project thanks to the help of the Historic Structures Fund in conjunction with the Waterways Ireland Heritage Plan. The Four Pots is a truly unique structure with a fascinating history dating all the way back to the eighteenth century. A marvel of engineering in its day, it's a hidden gem that serves as a perfect example of the rich built heritage that often surrounds us in our everyday lives and must be protected for future generations to enjoy."

John McDonagh, Chief Executive of Waterways Ireland: "We are delighted to continue our investment in our shared inland waterways heritage. The restoration works at the Four Pots on the Grand Canal, a unique structure on the inland of Ireland, was made possible through collaboration with the Historic Structures Fund as well as match-funding through our Heritage Plan. As custodians, we are passionate about the protection and promotion of heritage, ensuring it can be enjoyed by our stakeholders as well as generations of future waterway users."

Waterways Ireland wishes to advise users of the Grand Canal in Dublin city centre that the north-bank towpath between Locks C3 and C4, at Huband Bridge and Wilton Terrace respectively, will be closed for approximately two weeks for maintenance works beginning this Tuesday 6 June.

Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels and waterway users that Lock 3 on the main line of the Grand Canal at Inchicore in Dublin has been reopened after the early completion of emergency repair works on the lock gates.

Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels and waterway users that Lock 3 on the main line of the Grand Canal at Inchicore in Dublin will be closed from Friday 5 May until Saturday 3 June to facilitate emergency repair works on the lock gates.

Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels and users of the Grand Canal that ground investigation works have commenced Phase 2 of the Grand Canal Greenway between Sallins and Lowtown in northeast Co Kildare.

These Kildare County Council works started on Tuesday 18 April and are expected to last for approximately eight weeks.

The towpaths shall mostly remain open for public use for the duration of the works but intermittent closures will be necessary during trial hole excavations.

Advance warning signage will be erected on the towpath to warn the public of any closure. Boat navigation will not be affected, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways adds.

Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels and users of the Grand Canal in Dublin that the waterway between Lock 5 at Kylemore Road and Grand Canal Dock will be closed from Wednesday 12 to Saturday 15 April inclusive to facilitate the visit of US President Joe Biden to Ireland this week.

Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels and users of the Grand Canal in Dublin that works to Camden Lock in Grand Canal Dock will commence on Monday 3 April.

This will involve the lowering of the water level in Grand Canal Dock by approximately 400mm to accommodate the works on the sea lock.

Water levels were gradually lowered during past week commencing Monday 27 March and will remain low for a period of eight weeks.

Masters of vessels should contact Waterways Ireland prior to undertaking passage in Grand Canal Dock during the works, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways adds.

Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels and users of the Grand Canal at Tullamore, Co Offaly that canal works between Lock 26 and Lock 27 will take place in the week starting Monday 27 March.

The water level on the Grand Canal between Lock 26 and Lock 27 will be lowered. All vessels between these locks — including the branch line to Tullamore Harbour — should relocated from that canal level by Monday.

Navigation through Tullamore on the Grand Canal will be restricted from Monday 27 until Friday 31 March, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways adds.

Masters of vessels should contact Waterways Ireland prior to undertaking passage on the Grand Canal in this area during the works.

Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels and users of the Grand Canal in Dublin that jetty repair works between Lock C4 and Lock C5 will commence on Monday 3 April and continue for around eight weeks.

The water level on the Grand Canal between these locks will be lowered to accommodate the repair works.

Masters of vessels should contact Waterways Ireland prior to undertaking passage on the Grand Canal east or west of Wilton Terrace during these works, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways says.

Waterways Ireland reminds all masters and owners of vessels on the Grand Canal, Royal Canal, Barrow Line and Barrow Navigation that all canal permits expired on 1 November 2022 and must be renewed for 2023.

Permits can be renewed online at the Waterways Ireland website HERE.

The cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways emphasises that vessels with no permit, as required by Bye Law 6(8) of the Canals Act, will be “removed as operationally convenient”.