Shannonside FM reports that veteran inland waterways campaigner Dr Ian Bath has died aged 90.

Beginning in the 1970s, Dr Bath led the charge to revive the Royal Canal between Dublin and the River Shannon as a tourism amenity.

Through the efforts of Dr Bath and other volunteers in the Royal Canal Amenity Group, 74km of the waterway between Blanchardstown and Mullingar were reopened to navigation by 1990.

And another 20 years on, in October 2010, some months after Dr Bath’s history of the canal with Ruth Delany was published, the full length of the canal from the Shannon to the Liffey was officially reopened — an achievement for which Dr Bath was recognised with Afloat’s Sailor of the Month award for December 2010.

Shannonside FM has more on the story HERE.

The re-opening of the Royal Canal in October was the culmination of a remarkable joint effort by voluntary community groups and Waterways Ireland, together with government agencies. Many people were involved, at national and regional level, along this intriguing link between Dublin's docklands and the Upper Shannon in County Longford. Over the decades, the efforts of such achievements came into fruition and down to an individual. This was Ian Bath, who was central to forming the Royal Canal Amenity Group (RCAG) in 1974 and the importance of the canal in 21st century Ireland. The RCAG has successfully fulfilled its central purpose greatly enhances the recreational potential and interest of little known parts of the country. We salute Ian Bath as our final Afloat.ie/Irish Independent "Sailor of the Month" for 2010.