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Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

Inland Waterway News. Boating on Ireland's Rivers, Lakes and Canals
Shannon Navigation, Lough Derg – Mirror World Sailing Championship, MN93
MARINE NOTICE No. 93 of 2013 Shannon NavigationLough Derg Mirror Worlds Sailing Championship Waterways Ireland wishes to advise masters and owners that the above event will take place in Dromineer Bay and adjacent waters from Mon 22 Jul until Fri…
Royal Canal Towpath Closure Level 1-Binns Bridge to Russell St
MARINE NOTICE No. 97 of 2013 Royal Canal - Dublin Towpath Closure Level 1 – Binns Bridge to Russell St Waterways Ireland wishes to advise that the above section of canal towpath on Level 1 of the Royal Canal Dublin…
Shannon Navigation & Lough Key Waterways Ireland Triathlon Swimming Event
MARINE NOTICE No 98 of 2013 SHANNON NAVIGATION Lough Key Waterways Ireland Triathlon Swimming Event Waterways Ireland wishes to advise masters that the swimming element of the Lough Key Triathlon event will take place in the vicinity of Castle Island…
Shannon Navigation & Royal Canal Longford Marathon
MARINE NOTICENo. 99 of 2013 SHANNON NAVIGATION & ROYAL CANAL TARMONBARRY, ROOSKEY & BEGNAGH BRIDGES LONGFORD MARATHON Waterways Ireland wishes to advise all Masters and users that in order to facilitate the annual Longford marathon road race on Sun 25…
Canoe Polo Open Event at Royal Canal, Kilcock
MARINE NOTICE No. 100 of 2013 Royal Canal Kilcock International Canoe Polo Irish Open 2013 Waterways Ireland wishes advise all users of the Royal Canal that the above event will take place in Kilcock on Sat 31 st Aug and…
Shannon Navigation Shoal Area Reported at Lough Ree Inchturk Island
MARINE NOTICE No. 101 of 2013 SHANNON NAVIGATION Lough Ree Inchturk Island Shoal Area Reported. Waterways Ireland wishes to advise masters and owners that a shoal area has been reported approximately 100ft / 30m north of the starboardhand mark at…
Grand, Royal Canals & Barrow Navigation Planned Closures
MARINE NOTICE No 130 of 2013 GRAND, ROYAL CANALS AND BARROW NAVIGATION PLANNED WINTER CLOSURES2013-2014 Waterways Ireland wishes to advise Masters and owners of vessels that the following planned closures will be in place for the winter of 2013-2014. Grand Canal…
Shannon Navigation Lough Derg, Red Porthand Buoy off Station
MARINE NOTICE No 3 of 2014 Shannon Navigation Lough Derg Red Porthand Buoy Off Station Waterways Ireland has been advised that a red porthand buoy has been sighted grounded near Tinker Point on the western tip of Illaunmore island. Its…
Fallen Tree Blocks Royal Canal's Richmond Harbour
MARINE NOTICE No 4 of 2014 Shannon Navigation & Royal Canal Clondara / Richmond Harbour Waterways Ireland wishes to advise masters that a large tree has fallen across the navigation and is presently obstructing the entrance to Richmond Harbour and…
Sailing Vessel Sunk on Grand Canal at Shannon Harbour
#grandcanal – Waterways Ireland advises masters and owners that a small unidentified sailing vessel is sunk in Shannon Harbour approx. 500 metres East of Griffith Bridge on the south bank. The vessel is an obstruction to navigation. The mast is lying…
Boating Traffic on the Grand & Royal Canals & River Barrow to be Impacted By Bye–Laws – IWAI
#canal – The IWAI National Council hears the details of the impact the current proposals for Canal Bye- laws will have on boating traffic on the Grand and Royal Canals and the River Barrow. Carmel Meegan, President of the Inland Waterways…

Whether you're a boat enthusiast, historian, archaeologist, fisherman, or just taken by the natural beauty of Ireland's waterways, you will find something of interest in our Inland pages on Afloat.ie.

Inland Waterways

Ireland is lucky to have a wealth of river systems and canals crossing the country that, while once vital for transporting goods, are today equally as important for angling, recreational boating and of course tourism.

From the Barrow Navigation to the Erne System, the Grand Canal, the Lower Bann, the Royal Canal, the Shannon-Erne Waterway and the Shannon Navigation, these inland waterways are popular year in, year out for anyone with an interest in rambling; flora and fauna; fishing; sailing; motorboating; canoeing, kayaking and waterskiing; and cruising on narrowboats.

Although most will surely identify Ireland's inland waterways with boating holidays and a peaceful afternoon's angling, many varieties of watersport are increasingly favoured activities. Powerboat and Jetski courses abound, as do opportunities for waterskiing or wakeboarding. For those who don't require engine power, there's canoeing and kayaking, as Ireland's waterways have much to offer both recreational paddlers and those looking for more of a challenge. And when it comes to more sedate activities, there's nothing like going for a walk along a canal or river bank following some of the long-distance Waymarked Ways or Slí na Sláinte paths that criss-cross the country.

Ireland's network of rivers, lakes and canals is maintained by Waterways Ireland, which is one of the six North/South Implementation Bodies established under the British-Irish Agreement in 1999. The body has responsibility for the management, maintenance, development and restoration of inland navigable waterways on the island of Ireland, principally for recreational purposes. It also maintains Ireland's loughs, lakes and channels which are sought after for sailing; the network of canal locks and tow paths; as well as any buoys, bridges and harbours along the routes.

Along the Grand and Royal Canals and sections of the Barrow Navigation and the Shannon-Erne Waterway, Waterways Ireland is also responsible for angling activities, and charges Inland Fisheries Ireland with carrying out fisheries development, weed management and ensuring water quality.

Brian Goggin's Inland Blog

Giving his personal perspective on Ireland's Inland Waterways from present-day activities to their rich heritage, Brian Goggin tells it like it is with his Inland Blog.

From recognising achievements in management of the waterways to his worries on the costs of getting afloat on Ireland's canals, Goggin always has something important to say.

He also maintains the website Irish Waterways History that serves as a repository for a wealth of historical accounts of the past commercial and social uses alike of Ireland's rivers and canals, which were once the lifeblood of many a rural community.