Athy Community Enterprise Company (CLG) is seeking Expressions of Interest (EOI) from suitably qualified and experienced companies or individuals to operate its successful Athy Boat Tours

The boat tours operate on the River Barrow/Grand Canal from Athy town centre.

For information pack, please contact Brian O’Gorman email at [email protected] with ‘Athy Boat Tours’ in the subject line.

The closing date for receipt of completed applications is 12noon on Friday, 11th November 2022.

Waterways Ireland advises masters and owners of vessels that Lock 26 on the Barrow Line of the Grand Canal, at Athy in Co Kildare, has been closed to navigation until further notice for essential maintenance and repairs.

RTÉ News and TheJournal.ie report that a body was recovered yesterday, Saturday 6 March, in the search for a kayaker missing on the River Barrow in Athy since last weekend.

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, Declan Reid (34) and his eight-year-old son entered the water when their kayak capsized near Ardreigh Lock last Sunday afternoon (28 February).

While the boy was rescued by a passer-by, Reid disappeared — which prompted a multi-agency search operation throughout the week.

Emergency services resumed searching today (Tuesday 2 March) for a man who went missing after his kayak capsized on the River Barrow at the weekend.

According to RTÉ News, 34-year-old Declan Reid had been kayaking with his young son when the vessel overturned near Ardreigh Lock in Athy, Co Kildare on Sunday afternoon (28 February).

Independent.ie reports that Reid — who is set to be a father again in early summer — valiantly kept the eight-year-old boy afloat until he was rescued by a passer-by.

It’s also understood that Reid’s family live in the old lock-keeper’s cottage close to the scene.

Local Labour Party senator Mark Wall told TheJournal.ie: “Everyone in the town is very upset. Athy is and always has been a very close knit community … It has hit the town so hard.”