Displaying items by tag: Enniskillen
Erne System: St Patrick’s Weekend Activities in Enniskillen
Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels and users of the Erne System in Northern Ireland that the St Patrick’s Illuminated Flotilla will take place in Enniskillen this Saturday evening 16 March.
The event runs from 6.30pm to 8.30pm, starting at the Killyhevlin Hotel and passsing through Enniskillen to the Round ‘O’.
There will be around 40 vessels taking part in the event. The Enniskillen Castle/Museums jetty will be closed for the event, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways says.
Water-based activities will also take place at the Lakeland Forum area in Broadmeadow on St Patrick’s Day (Sunday 17 March).
Boat trips, canoeing, water bikes and other activities will be taking place in the area. Masters of vessels should keep their wash to a minimum when passing the area of the activities.
Erne System: Planned Works on Overhead Power Lines at Ardhowen
Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels and waterways users on the Erne System in Northern Ireland that a section of the navigation channel will be closed between the Killyhevlin Hotel and the Ardhowen for NIE works on the overhead power lines on Tuesday 5 March from 10am to 4pm.
Masters of vessels are advised to adhere to all signage and direction of safety boats, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways adds.
Erne Head of the River Rowing Race 2024 Takes Place This Saturday
Waterways Ireland advises masters and owners of vessels on the Erne System in Northern Ireland that the Erne Eights Head of the River rowing race will take place this Saturday 2 March.
The event will start upstream of the Killyhevlin Hotel and will race through to Enniskillen Royal Boat Club.
Rowing boats and craft will be on the water from 9am to 5pm. There will be around 80 rowing crews participating in the event. The downstream sections of the Round ‘O’ jetty will be closed for the duration.
Masters of vessels should adhere to all instructions given by race marshals on the day and keep the race course clear, especially during racing.
Masters of vessels are also asked to keep wash to minimum when passing rowing crews and race marshals, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways says.
Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels on and users of the Erne System in Northern Ireland that the Henry Street Jetties in Enniskillen will be closed this Friday 23 to Saturday 24 February.
This is to accommodate the annual Fishing Tackle and Bait angling open weekend taking place in the Co Fermanagh town, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways adds.
Erne System: Enniskillen-Area Power Bollards Isolated for Winter Period
Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels on and users of the Erne System in the Enniskillen area that the power bollards at the Round ‘O’ and Carrybridge will be isolated on Wednesday 8 November for the winter period.
Power will be reconnected at the start of the 2024 boating season, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways adds.
Erne System: Charity ‘Hydrobikeathon’ in Enniskillen This Weekend
Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels and waterway users on the Erne System that the 2023 Hydrobikeathon will take place around the town of Enniskillen on Friday 8 and Saturday 9 September.
The event will involve groups of hydrobikes completing laps of Enniskillen town and Castle Island for a period of 24 hours from 5pm on Friday to 5pm on Saturday.
Masters of vessels and waterway users are advised to proceed with additional caution, to be aware of small non-motorised craft involved in the charity event and to comply with the instructions of safety boats.
To facilitate this charity event, the Castle Museum jetty will be closed from noon on Friday 8 to 6pm on Saturday 9 September, adds the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways.
Enniskillen Lifeboat Assist Two After Boat Breakdown
Enniskillen RNLI’s inshore lifeboat John and Jean Lewis was launched at the request of Belfast Coastguard on Wednesday afternoon (9 August) to assess a boat breakdown near Portoa Lock.
The Shetland cruiser with two people onboard had reported encountering mechanical issues, and was found adrift when the lifeboat arrived on scene.
The lifeboat crew assessed those onboard and found them to be safe and well and wearing lifejackets.
After its mechanical issues were remedied, the vessel made its way to the Round ‘O’ jetty followed by the lifeboat crew and it was safely secured at its berth.
Speaking following the call-out, Alan Shaw, volunteer helm at Enniskillen RNLI had advice for all boat users in the summer season.
“Carry out regular maintenance checks on your vessel. Make sure you have the relevant charts required before starting your journey, lifejackets for all on board and a means of calling for assistance if you find yourself in trouble.
“If you see someone in trouble on the water or are in difficulties yourself the number to dial is 999 or 112 and ask for the coastguard.”
Enniskillen RNLI volunteers launched their inshore lifeboat at 2pm on Monday (3 July), following a request from Belfast Coastguard to check a 17ft fishing boat reported to have all fishing equipment onboard and drifting close to Hare Island.
Winds were westerly, Force 4 at the time and visibility was clear on Lower Lough Erne in Northern Ireland at time of launching.
Arriving on scene, the crew observed the boat with no one onboard. The lifeboat, helmed by Paul Keown and with three crew onboard, subsequently conducted a search of all the islands in the area including the shoreline.
The owner of the boat was meanwhile contacted and found to be safe and well. It transpired that the boat had broken from its moorings.
Speaking following the call-out, Keown said: “While the boat had broken from its moorings, there was an initial concern that someone may be missing as the equipment was onboard.
“We would like to commend the member of the public who raised the alarm when they were concerned, that is always the right thing to do. We would always much rather launch and find that all is safe and well than not launch at all.”
Enniskillen RNLI to Open State of the Art Station and Name Atlantic 85 Class Lifeboat
Volunteers at Enniskillen RNLI will host a dual celebration at 2 pm next Saturday, 1 July, when the charity’s new state-of-the-art lifeboat station will be officially opened on Killadeas Road.
The charity’s Atlantic 85 class lifeboat, John and Jean Lewis, will also be officially named during a special ceremony. The lifeboat, which has been on service on Lower Lough Erne since 2018, was funded by a legacy from the late John and Jean Lewis from Birmingham.
John Arthur Lewis (1922 – 2013) was a major influence in both model yacht and full-size sailing yacht design with a career spanning 81 years. His interest in model boats began as a boy in Bournville when he used to race model sailing yachts successfully and later began to design and build his own. Success in the model design world eventually drew the attention of the ocean racing fraternity and several full-scale designs were produced. He went on to publish two books of designs. John’s lifelong interest in sailing was shared by his devoted wife, Jean. It was, therefore very much their joint decision that the RNLI receive a legacy to finance a lifeboat. While the extended family are unable to attend the ceremony next week, they are delighted that this wish has come to fruition in the purchase and active service of a lifeboat on Lough Erne.
Despite being on service for the last four and a half years, where the John and Jean Lewis has launched 97 times and brought 205 people to safety, the naming ceremony has been consciously held off to coincide with the completion and official opening of a new station, now home to the lifeboat and her volunteer crew.
After being housed in temporary accommodation for 21 years, volunteers at Enniskillen RNLI were handed the keys to their new state-of-the-art building on the Killadeas Road at Gublusk in November last year.
The modern purpose-built lifeboat station is located close to the lough to allow for an efficient inshore lifeboat launch. The station also houses the associated launching tractor and equipment, full crew changing facilities, a workshop, office and training room.
The Omagh-based company Woodvale Construction carried out the build, which took little over a year to complete.
A generous contribution towards the cost of the build was made by Ann Johnson, family of the late Alfred Russell Wallace Weir from Bangor in County Down, in his memory.
The building is designed with a heating system which allows the heat to be drawn from the ground and produced inside, keeping the temperature at an ambient 16 degrees Celsius. The excess is used to heat the water for showering, washing, and cleaning the vessels. The building is also fitted with solar panels on the roof to generate electricity.
In 2001, Lough Erne became home to the RNLI’s first inland lifeboat station. However, due to the overall size and complexity of the lough and its high leisure usage, the decision was taken by the RNLI in 2002 to base a second lifeboat on the upper lough at Carrybridge that would work in conjunction with the original lifeboat station on the lower lough at Killadeas. Today, Lough Erne is home to two separate lifeboat stations, Enniskillen and Carrybridge RNLI.
Speaking ahead of next week’s special event, Gary Jones, Enniskillen RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager, said: ‘This day has been a long time coming, and I am delighted for the whole volunteer team that we can officially open this wonderful new station, home to our equally wonderful lifeboat. The new station is a testament of the RNLI’s commitment and dedication to the community here locally and a credit to our crew’s efforts in continuing to bring people to safety on Lower Lough Erne.
‘We are now well settled in our new station but can still be overwhelmed with the structure and facilities we now have when we come together for call-outs and training; it really has made such a difference. We would like to thank everyone who has helped us to get to this stage, including the Weir family from Bangor in County Down and the Lewis family from Birmingham. We will look forward to showcasing our new station and officially naming our lifeboat next week when we can share the occasion with our families, friends, and invited guests.’
Waterways Ireland advises all masters and users of the Erne System in Northern Ireland that the channel east of Castle Island in Enniskillen will be closed from this Wednesday 7 June to 30 September 2023.
This is for the creation of a water activity zone in the area, similar to that created last year. The designated area will be clearly marked by floating buoys.
Access to Castle Museum Jetty will be maintained when approaching from the north of Castle Island.
Mariners should use the navigation channel to the west of Castle Island and proceed at slow speed with minimum wash, adhering to any instructions or displayed signage.
Mariners should also be aware of small non-motorised craft also operating in the navigation, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways adds.