Waterways Ireland advises masters and owners of vessels that a number of locks on the Shannon Navigation will be closed next Wednesday 5 February to facilitate staff training.

The affected locks on the inland waterway are in Athlone; Pollboy Lock in Ballinasloe; Victoria Lock at Meelick in Co Galway; Portumna Bridge north of Lough Derg; and Sarsfield Lock in Limerick.

Waterways Ireland regrets any inconvenience this may cause and thanks its customers for their co-operation.

Three projects nominated by Waterways Ireland have been chosen as finalists for this year’s All Ireland Community & Council Awards, presented by IPB Insurance and LAMA, at Croke Park on Saturday 15 February.

Inland waterways finalists in the awards’ 14th year include the Royal Canal Citizen Science Project, which has been selected in the Best Environmental/Ecological Project/Initiative category.

This project is where Waterways Ireland facilitated a change in management, following consultation with a local community group, to support local biodiversity on the Royal Canal at Baltrasna, near Mullingar.

The effect was then monitored by a local environmental group along with Butterfly Conservation Ireland and Birdwatch Ireland.

Elsewhere, Crinniú @ Portumna has been selected as a finalist in Best Arts/Culture (inclucing festivals & events).

This inaugural community-centred heritage event, subtitled ‘a celebration of people, place and heritage’, was a collaboration between Waterways Ireland, Galway County Council Heritage Office and OPW Portumna Castle.

The event received great local support as well as attendance by barges from the Heritage Boat Association.

Stories from the Waterways has been selected as a finalist in Best Connected Council (Communication & Digital Marketing) category.

For this project, Waterways Ireland recorded two series of digital media features. One focused on local communities and their interactions with the waterways, and a second series focused on the work of Waterways Ireland staff in the protection and promotion of waterways heritage.

These digital shorts can be viewed on social media and on the Waterways Ireland website.

Hundreds of leading community organisations from across Ireland entered this year’s awards, which boast over 19 categories.

The main award, the much anticipated Grand Prix title, goes to the project that has received the highest level of recognition from judges.

Last year, the prestigious title went to Louth County Council for their Sports Inclusion Disability Programme. The aspiration of the highly successful programme is to increase and sustain participation for people with disabilities.

Speaking about this year’s finalists, event manager Michael O'Donoghue, said: “We anticipate this year’s event will be bigger and better than ever, with many unsung heroes being recognised for their outstanding contribution to their communities.

“Competition remains high with so many inspiring projects deserving awards.”

Blueways Ireland launches its newly upgraded website this weekend during the Holiday World show in the RDS.

The site offers, maps and information on where to stay, eat and the exciting outdoor experiences available on the Shannon Blueway, Lough Derg Blueway and the Shannon-Erne Blueway.

Find inspiration for family-friendly short breaks and more with Blueways Ireland’s partners Waterways Ireland on stand Q7 at Holiday World, which runs until tomorrow, Sunday 26 January.

While there you can meet cruising and activity providers from all over Ireland’s inland waterways and find out more about the newest activities, boats and itineraries for the 2020 season.

What’s more, VR goggles will make it seem like you are really there so you can get a virtual sense of the on the water, by the water experience.

Inspirational packs featuring the best waterway locations for on-the-water fun, food and family time can be picked up on the stand.

And you can enter competitions each day with prizes including glamping, canoe trips, SUP and cycle trips, and discounts on barge hire. Terms and conditions will apply and the winning entries will be pulled at the end of the show.

Waterways Ireland advises users of the Grand Canal in the Cappincur area of Tullamore, Co Offaly of interruption to navigation on the inland waterway in the coming weeks.

Water levels will be reduced and navigation will be closed in order to facilitate lock gate replacement works at Lock No 24 from Monday 27 January to Tuesday 17 March.

The news follows the previous announcement of reduced water levels in the Sallins area on the canal’s Naas Line to facilitate gate replacements works on Lock N1.

Waterways Ireland advises users of the Grand Canal that water levels will be reduced in the Sallins area (Level 15 from Killeen Golf Club to Digby Bridge) over the coming weeks.

This in order to facilitate lock gate replacement works at Lock N1 on the Naas Line in Co Kildare.

Works on the waterway began on Tuesday 21 January and will be in progress until to Wednesday 1 April.

Waterways Ireland advises all masters of vessels and water users that Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) will be placing fisheries survey nets on Lough Allen from today, Tuesday 21 January to this Thursday 23 January.

The nets will be in the waterway during daytime and night-time and will be marked with buoys.

Vessels in this part of the Shannon Navigation should proceed with additional caution during this period.

Shared stories of folklore and the history of spiritual sites around Lough Erne will be the subject of a public meeting at Waterways Ireland HQ in Enniskillen later this month.

Hosted by Waterways Ireland in partnership with the Lough Erne Landscape Partnership, the community outreach event encourages locals around the Fermanagh waterway to drop in and share their stories and folk tales, as well as memorabilia and photographs, that only they would have.

Doors will be open from 1pm to 8pm on Monday 27 January, with the Centre for Data Digitisation and Analysis at Queen’s University Belfast on hand to record these oral histories and more for posterity.

The project will also inform the development of the Lough Erne Spiritual Trail, an initiative of Waterways Ireland and the Lough Erne Landscape Partnership.

Eleven significant spiritual and/or ecclesiastical sites have been selected, including Devenish Island, White Island (North), Davy’s Island, Inishmacsaint, Caldragh (Boa Island), Cleenish, St. Ronan’s Aghalurcher, Galloon, Killadeas, Derryvullen and Tievealough.

Waterways Ireland wishes to advise all masters of vessels and water users that the lock at Ardnacrusha power plant on the River Shannon will be closed for six weeks from Monday 20 January to Monday 2 March to facilitate essential maintenance works.

The cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways apologises for any inconvenience caused and thanks all vessel owners for their co-operation.

Waterways Ireland marks the New Year with a Special Marine Notice providing general information for boaters and users of Ireland’s inland waterways.

Masters and owners are strongly recommended to check the Waterways Ireland website for general information about the waterways and in particular the Marine Notices section which gives current operational information about the individual navigations such as works in progress, passage restrictions and more.

This Special Marine Notice contains advice and information on water safety, registration of vessels, usage permits and lock passage, berthing details and mooring limits, events taking place on the waterways in 2020, and much more.

The full notice can be found on the Waterways Ireland website HERE.

Applications are open until Wednesday 15 January for the 2020 Waterways Ireland Event Programme, which aims to support events on or along Ireland’s inland waterways throughout the year.

Taking place annually for the past 13 years, the programme has supported competitions, learning experiences and community, historical and educational events for people with and without disabilities across thousands of communities nationwide.

Involving angling, canoeing, rowing, sailing and power sports, arts, history, drama and learning new skills, Waterways Ireland these events have most importantly been about having fun.

Sharon Lavin of Waterways Ireland said: “The new vision for the Event Programme will activate event organisers to consider how they can build in ongoing activity and sustained use of the waterways corridors into their event.

“Tourism and participation in recreation has a social and economic impact in waterfront communities, and events are a great way to engage communities with previously under-utilised waterways.”

The application form (with guidance notes) can now be viewed and completed online. Terms and conditions apply. The closing date the receipt of completed applications is Wednesday 15 January.