Menu

Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

Inland Waterway News. Boating on Ireland's Rivers, Lakes and Canals
With nearly 50 boats already moored, With nearly 50 boats already moored, the organisers hope that up to 100 boats will attend the Jamestown Heritage Festival
The Village of Jamestown in County Leitrim is holding its Third Heritage Festival from May 24 to June 2. Members of the Heritage Boat Association and Inland Waterways Association of Ireland will visit Jamestown Harbour. With nearly 50 boats already…
Lough Ree Yacht Club - the home of Double Ree, a festival of youth Double-handed sailing
The age-old issue of what boat to progress into after Optimists is often answered by opting for another single-handed boat, writes John McGonigle of Lough Ree. And why not? The skills learned in an Optimist dinghy can be easily carried over…
Erne Boat Rally boats
Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels on the Erne System that the 2024 Erne Boat Rally will be taking place from Friday 24 to Monday 27 May. Boaters taking part with gather at Lisnaskea Boat Club on Friday evening for…
Dublin Bay classic and traditional boats will gather on the River Liffey this weekend for a two-day boat rally at Poolbeg Yacht and Boat Club
So many boat events are scheduled in Ireland for this weekend that the powers-that-be should maybe take notice, and make it into the Bank Holiday that everyone seems to think it is. The official one at the beginning of May…
File image of the Royal Canal at the Leixlip aqueduct
Waterways Ireland advises users of the Royal Canal between Leixlip and Maynooth that cycleway upgrade works have recently restarted along this stretch of the canal in Co Kildare. These works will require periodic closures of the canal towpaths in the…
Rowers taking part in a previous Carlow Regatta on the Barrow Navigation
Waterways Ireland advises that the Carlow Regatta rowing event will take place on Sunday 2 June on the Barrow Navigation. Masters of vessels are requested to proceed with additional caution in the vicinity of the event and obey safety boat…
Waterways Ireland logo
Waterways Ireland advises all masters of vessels on and users of the Barrow Navigation that Levitstown lifting bridge in Co Kildare is closed with immediate effect (as of Friday 17 May) to facilitate maintenance works. It is anticipated that the…
Waterways Ireland logo
Waterways Ireland advises all masters of vessels and users of the Shannon Navigation that that the Spencer Harbour public jetty and amenity area, and the areas of Lough Allen immediately upstream and downstream of the harbour, will be closed from…
Manchán Magan joins an illustrious list of The Rivers Trust Ambassadors that already includes TV presenter and archaeologist Professor Alice Roberts
The Rivers Trust has announced the appointment of renowned Irish writer and broadcaster Manchán Magan as its first All-Ireland Ambassador. The announcement was made today (Saturday, May 18th) during the annual All-Ireland Conference hosted this year by Ballinderry Rivers Trust…
File image of the Barrow Navigation in Carlow
Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels on the Barrow Navigation that events will be taking place on the waterway in Carlow town over the next two weekends. The Kerala House Boat Race will take place this Sunday 19 May. And…
Brendan O'Connor, Commodore Garykennedy S.C., Maura Boyle of Larkins presenting the Visitors Cup to Philip Despard and his team of Stephenie O’Neill, Catherine Murphy, Stefany Gorski and Mark Reddan
Racing on Lough Derg is well underway already this season, with growing numbers appearing at Garykennedy Sailing Club's activities on Saturdays since April. Some 150 sailors turned out last Saturday for "The Visitors' Cup" which was part of a day…
Yachts and boats dressed overall for a multi-coloured parade of sail on the River Liffey as part of the annual 'Blessing of the Boats' ceremony at Poolbeg Yacht and Boat Club on Sunday, May 12th. Scroll down for a photo gallery of participating boats
Up to 30 yachts and motorboats joined the annual Poolbeg Yacht and Boat Club parade of sailing down the River Liffey and out into Dublin Bay on Sunday afternoon, a tribute to deceased members of the Dublin City club. The…
File image of the 14th Lock on the Grand Canal at Killeenbeg, Co Kildare
Waterways Ireland advises all masters of vessels on the Grand Canal that the 14th Lock at Devonshire Bridge in Co Kildare has been closed with immediate effect. Navigation through the lock is not possible at this time. Further notices in…
Waterways Ireland logo
Waterways Ireland advises masters and owners of vessels on the Shannon Navigation that water levels in all areas north of Lough Ree are now at Ordinary Summer Level. Water levels on the Shannon Navigation south of Lough Ree are approaching…
The Fund Britain’s Waterways flotilla gathers on the River Thames outside the Palace of Westminster on Wednesday 8 May
Campaign group Fund Britain’s Waterways has returned to Westminster to deliver a loud and clear message for funding to safeguard the future of the country’s canals and river navigations. The 20-strong flotilla on Wednesday (8 May) was a spectacle for…
File image of the Grand Canal’s 30th Lock at Ballincloughin Bridge in Co Offaly
Waterways Ireland advises all masters of vessels on the Grand Canal that the 30th Lock at Ballincloughin Bridge, west of Tullamore in Co Offaly, will be closed for maintenance from Monday 13 May to Saturday 18 May. Navigation through the…

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.