This year, Waterways Ireland’s partnership with the St Patrick’s Festival will celebrate the beloved Dublin canals as one of 10 showpiece performances in the capital’s St Patrick’s Day Parade on Friday 17 March.

With half a million spectators expected to line this year’s route, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways says it’s proud to showcase and celebrate the history, heritage and recreational vibrancy of the Dublin canals as integral parts of Ireland’s culture.

As the parade passes by look out for ‘Uiscebhéal’, a performance inspired by the values of sustainability and community that will highlight the role of the Grand Canal and Royal Canal in the life of the city.

John McDonagh, Waterways Ireland chief executive said: “Our treasured historic canals are familiar welcoming places for generations, spaces for recreation, inspiration for artists and a sanctuary where nature can survive and thrive.

“It is a pleasure to have worked with the St Patrick’s Festival team to recognise the significance of the Royal and Grand canals in Dublin through this wonderful performance.”

Richard Tierney, St Patrick’s Festival CEO added: “Our partnership with Waterways Ireland celebrates some of the most intrinsic and loved parts of Dublin and Ireland, we are thrilled to shine a light on the usage of the canals and the many ways we can all enjoy these great amenities.”

The St Patrick’s Festival takes place in Dublin and nationwide from Thursday 16 to Sunday 19 March.

Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels and users of the Grand Canal that construction of the greenway is ongoing as previously reported on Afloat.ie.

As part of these works, water levels on the canal will be lowered by 400mm in northeast Co Kildare between Lock 13 at Ardclough and Lock 14 at Devonshire Bridge from Monday 20 February for a period of six weeks.

Waters are being lowered to accommodate greenway works under Henry Bridge, Ponsonby Bridge and Devonshire Bridge.

Further notices will be issued in due course to provide updates as the works progress, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways adds.

Waterways Ireland and Dublin City Council have launched a new study that considers the outdoor recreation opportunities of the Grand Canal and its towpaths and land resources in Dublin’s south central area.

The jointly commissioned report by Irish Leisure Consultants, titled The Grand Canal Recreation Activation and Animation: Portobello to Kylemore Road, is informed by the views and knowledge of local communities and stakeholders as well as the ambitions of national and local strategies and plans.

The area in question has limited on-water activity at present, even though it has one of the longest stretches of the canal in the city with no navigation locks.

The Grand Canal and its towpaths represent a significant opportunity to unlock the potential of this inland waterway asset for local communities, Dubliners and visitors to the city.

The consultation process identified positive, strong and diverse connections among residents and communities with this section of the Grand Canal, including recreational uses, environmental stewardship, heritage, and active travel. The report emphasises the importance of balancing of opportunities and responsibilities to increase quality of life and provide for a diverse range of needs and interests.

The report also recommends a collaborative approach, with an initial programme of community-based activities and leadership training to enhance a sense of place and develop perceptions and engagement with the canal, followed by the physical development of a series of links, nodes and zones along the canal.

In spring and summer this year, the project partners say they will work with local stakeholders to pilot a number of on-water activities and explore sustainable initiatives to unlock the potential of the city’s Grand Canal.

Waterways Ireland advises users of the Grand Canal Greenway that the greenway section from Digby Bridge to Sallins in Co Kildare will remain closed until the end of February for continued works on restoring the Four Pots overflow structure.

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, the Four Pots is a unique structure located alongside the Grand Canal towpath between the Leinster Aqueduct and Digby Bridge.

Its four circular channels of varying depth helped reduce the water pressure and volume rate before discharge from the canal back to the River Liffey through a series of channels, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways says.

Waterways Ireland advises users of the Grand Canal in West Dublin that the greenway section from the 8th Lock at Fox and Geese to the 9th Lock in Clondalkin will now be closed from Tuesday 3 January to Friday 10 February.

This closure is to accommodate ESB cabling and services installation works, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways adds.

No public access is permitted during these works. A temporary traffic management plan with diversions for pedestrians and cyclists will be in place.

Waterways Ireland advises users of the Grand Canal Greenway that the greenway section from Digby Bridge to Sallins in Co Kildare will remain closed until the end of January 2023 for continued works on restoring the Four Pots overflow structure.

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, the Four Pots is a unique structure located alongside the Grand Canal towpath between the Leinster Aqueduct and Digby Bridge.

Its four circular channels of varying depth helped reduce the water pressure and volume rate before discharge from the canal back to the River Liffey through a series of channels, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways says.

Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels and users of the Grand Canal in northeast Kildare that the towpath from Sallins to Naas Golf Club is closed to pedestrian and cycle traffic as of Monday 5 December and will not reopen until 11 September 2023.

This is to facilitate development for Phase 1 of the Grand Canal Greenway, construction works on which commenced in October, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways adds. Afloat.ie has more on the first phase of works HERE.

Waterways Ireland advises users of the Grand Canal Greenway that the section from Digby Bridge to Sallins in Co Kildare will be closed from Monday 28 November to Tuesday 20 December in order to facilitate the restoration of the Four Pots overflow structure.

The Four Pots is a unique overflow structure located alongside the Grand Canal towpath between the Leinster Aqueduct and Digby Bridge, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways says.

No longer in use, this ingenious overflow system has four circular channels of varying depth that helped reduce the water pressure and volume rate before discharge from the canal back to the River Liffey through a series of channels.

Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels in Monasterevin’s Bell Harbour and all masters of vessels and users of the Grand Canal’s Barrow Line that water levels in the canal will be reduced by approximately 600mm between the 24th Lock at Ballykelly and the 25th Lock in Monasterevin for essential bank repair works.

Reduction of levels will commence at 9am on Monday 28th November and will last until Friday 2 December, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways adds.

Waterways Ireland advises users of the Grand Canal in West Dublin that the greenway section from the 8th Lock at Fox and Geese to the 9th Lock in Clondalkin will be closed from next Wednesday 16 November to Friday 16 December to accommodate services installation works.

No public access is permitted during these works. A temporary traffic management plan with diversions for pedestrians and cyclists will be in place, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways adds.