Waterways Ireland celebrated the completion of the restoration of the Main Line of the Royal Canal on the inland waterways today. Celebrations began at 2pm in Richmond Harbour, Clondra, Co Longford. The official part of the event at 2pm involved the arrival of a flotilla of boats, short speeches, music and a reception This weekend there is a two day festival organised by the Clondra Branch of the Royal Canal Amenity Group.

Waterways Ireland has issued a notice tu users of the Grand Canal on the inland waterways that a section of the canal, extending from the 34th Lock to the 35th Lock inclusive, will be closed to navigation between 1st November 2010 and 14th March 2011 to facilitate the following improvement works to the Shannon Harbour area:

PROVISION OF HOUSE BOAT BERTHING AREA

The works site will extend from Griffith Bridge for approximately 350m eastwards of the bridge. Temporary dams will be constructed in the vicinity of this site. Due to low and/or possibly fluctuating water levels between the site and the 34th Lock, it is strongly advised that boats should not be moored between the site and the 34th Lock. Adequate berthage is available East of the 34th Lock. There will be no pedestrian or vehicular access through the work site. Pedestrian and vehicular entry/exit access will be via the south canal bank at L'Estrange Bridge for the duration of the works.

TRANS-SHIPMENT SHED CANOPY REMOVAL AND ASSOCIATED REMEDIAL WORKS
These works will extend for a period of approximately six weeks from November 1st 2010. Boats will not be permitted to moor in the vicinity of the work site during this period. The work site will extend from the 35th Lock for approximately 125m Eastwards, to a point approximately 15m beyond the Eastern gable of the trans-shipment shed. There will be no vessel mooring in the vicinity of the work site. There will be no pedestrian or vehicular access along the northerly canal bank from Griffith Bridge towards the 35th and 36th Locks for the site work duration.

Waterways Ireland in conjunction with a working committee will mark the completion of the main line of the Royal Canal on the inland waterways with an event that will take place in Richmond Harbour, Clondra, Co. Longford on the 1st October as part of a weekend of festivities. This event is the culmination of not only 36 years of campaigning by the Royal Canal Amenity Group (RCAG) but a summer of waterside events moving East to West; boaters and waterside communities have been celebrating the reawakening of the Royal Canal each weekend leading up to the main event.

The formal event will take place on October 1st at 2pm, with a flotilla of boats arriving into Richmond Harbour. The flotilla will include boats from each branch of the RCAG as well as the Heritage Boat Association, Inland Waterways Association of Ireland, the supporters of the Canal d'Nivernais, representatives of the Wilderness Boats. The flotilla will be lead by Royal Canal Barge no 3 (also known as the Killucan Barge). The formal event will be followed by a weekend of celebrations organised by the Clondra Branch of the RCAG and supported by Waterways Ireland. The weekend festivities are open to all.

The Royal Canal is a highly significant and historic public amenity. 145.6km long, the Royal Canal stretches from Dublin to the Shannon passing through Dublin, Kildare, Meath, Westmeath and Longford. 1.2 million people live within this catchment making the Royal Canal one of the largest public amenities on the island.

The Grand Canal in Tullamore on Ireland's inland waterways will be closed at Cox's Bridge (near the 27th lock) from Monday, 1st November 2010 to Monday, 1st March 2011 to facilitate bridge repairs by National Roads Authority. 

Waterways Ireland has advised that technical difficulties are presently preventing the Portumna bridge on the Shannon navigation on the inland waterways from opening and closing correctly. Corrective action is being taken to rectify the problem. Any master planning a voyage on this stretch of the navigation should first contact the Bridge Keeper on 090-9741011 for the most recent information.

Due to recent heavy rainfall on the inland waterways strong currents and flows may be experienced at jetties, locks and bridges on the Shannon-Erne Waterway, Waterways Ireland has warned this evening. Additionally air draft at bridges should be closely monitored on approach especially at Ballyconnell, Ballyheady, Coologe and Leitrim. Masters ofvessels should navigate with caution when approaching such structures. Waterways Ireland also wishes to advise all users of the Shannon-Erne Waterway of restrictions associated with the high water levels. Lowerlanding jetties at Skelan Lock 3, Ardrum Lock 5 & Ballyduff Lock 7 are currently flooded. Waterways Ireland will continue to facilitate any customer wishing to make apassage through the locks by prior arrangement with Waterway Patrollers.

Waterways Ireland has commenced the first Phase of a Public Consultation programme on proposed new Bye-laws for all seven waterways under its remit. Bye-laws facilitate the management of a waterway, clearly outlining the roles and responsibility of Waterways Ireland and all the people involved in using the navigation, whether for recreational or commercial purposes.

It is intended that the proposed new Bye-Laws will reflect the breadth of modern day use of the waterways; bringing consistency in navigational rules across the waterway network. The new Bye-laws are also expected to facilitate waterway users understanding of their responsibilities in sharing this multi-functional environment. Whether the waterways users are in Killaloe (Shannon Navigation), Coleraine(Lower Bann), or Tullamore (Grand Canal) the same navigational rules will apply. Due to important differences in the enabling legislation in both jurisdictions as well as legislative and court procedures, Waterways Ireland will introduce the new Bye-laws separately in Northern Ireland and Ireland.

Waterways Ireland has considered global best practice, feedback from users and stakeholders and the individual characteristics of the different waterways in developing the new Bye-laws. Future proofing the Bye-laws has been an important feature of the drafting process to ensure they remain fit for purpose.

Phase 1 of the public consultation will be directed at stakeholders; groups who represent the interests of inland waterway users and organisations whose statutory remit could be affected. Stakeholders in each jurisdiction will receive the relevant Bye-laws for a 12 week consultation period. Copies of the Bye-laws of the other jurisdiction are available on request from Waterways Ireland HQ. Stakeholders are requested to hold internal discussions with their constituents before providing a single response to the draft Bye-laws.

The deadline for the end of Phase 1 of the Public Consultation is the 15th October 2010. Thereafter, the entire Bye-laws will undergo a further examination and revision, informed by the analysis of the responses received. Phase 2 will only commence once this full revision has taken place.

Phase 2 of the Public Consultation Programme is public meetings. These meetings will be held along each of the waterways and will be widely advertised and open to all who wish to attend.

Prior to Phase 2 of the consultation programme, copies of the revised Bye-laws will be downloadable from the Waterways Ireland website www.waterwaysireland.org. They will be distributed to all those attending the public meetings. Alternatively, they can be issued to individuals by email or post on request.

The completion of the public consultation programme will be followed by a further revision of the Bye-laws to take account of the points raised at the public meetings. The enactment of the legislation in each jurisdiction will follow.

Please find attached below the draft Waterways Ireland Bye-Laws & associated documents which are intended to improve the management of all seven navigations under the control of Waterways Ireland in both Northern Ireland & Ireland.

For further information on Phase 1 or Phase 2 of the Public Consultation process contact [email protected] or Tel no +44 28 6634 6202.

 

Waterways Ireland has announced the commencement of the second phase of the improvements at the Killaloe Canal on the inland waterways.

The works on the Shannon Navigation at Killaloe involve the repair and widening of the canal wall. Flow Control Gates will be installed in the canal and new moorings have already been put in place to provide greater capacity. A further outcome of the flow control gates is the incorporation of a pedestrian footbridge creating a looped walk along the canal. The entire walkway will be resurfaced as part of the project.

The works have been designed by Waterways Ireland and will be undertaken by a contractor. The work will commence on the 13th September 2010 and is expected to be completed in March 2011. During this period the footpath between the R463 Killaloe to Scarriff Road and the canal will be closed.

The remedial works to the canal wall include the installation of approximately 400 m of sheet piles to incorporate the extension to the moorings and underpin the existing canal wall. The installation of boat pump-out facility and new mains pump chamber has been included in the programme.

When complete three walkways will link the newly installed floating moorings to the canal wall. The 250m of floating moorings were installed by Waterways Ireland earlier in the year in preparation for this work to take place.
Waterways Ireland would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused during the contract period. Queries about this work can be directed to the Waterways Ireland Western Regional Office in Scarriff, Tel 061 922033.

Enjoy four days of classic yacht racing, steamboats, vintage and classic car displays, from Friday 27 August to Monday 30 August at the National Trust’s magnificent Crom Estate, Upper Lough Erne, Co. Fermanagh on Ireland's inland waterways.

Supported by Waterways Ireland and organised by the Lough Erne Classic Yacht Association(www.classicsailireland.com), the Waterways Ireland Classic Yacht Regatta promises to be a great weekend for yachting enthusiasts and families alike, with yachts visiting from all over Ireland and the UK.  Not since 1913 when Crom was the social hub, and centre of the inland yachting world will there been such an gathering of classic craft.

Up to 100 classic sail and steam yachts are expected to fill the bays around Crom, and likely to be joined by many other visitors on cruisers converging from across the Shannon-Erne system. While classic yachts will take pride of place at this event the whole of Crom estate will be alive with activity as music, vintage cars and live demonstrations of steam powered Edwardian vessels add to the range of attractions on offer.

Commenting on the yachting extravaganza Paul Louden-Brown, Chairman, Lough Erne Classic Yacht Association said “We have had an amazing uptake in the number and quality of historic yachts booking to race at Crom.  One of the many highlights of the bank holiday weekend activity is a series of races between two of Linton Hope’s one-designs. The Broad’s Brown Boats and Fairy Class Yachts from Lough Erne Yacht Club and the Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club, will compete for a special challenge trophy.  This will be the first time these fleets have raced against each other.

Lough Erne Yacht Club was founded in 1837 at Crom, and the waters surrounding the castle and nearby estates are where some of the most technically innovative and historically important yachts were built and raced, many of them by the leading designers of the day like Fife, Watson, Mylne and Payne. For 80 years the leading families of the Upper Lough raced their yachts in fierce competition for magnificent silver trophy cups but all this ended with the beginning of the world war. Once again, in August 2010, yachts will race on these historic waters.”

Martin Dennany, Director of Marketing & Communications, Waterways Ireland added “We are delighted to sponsor this magnificent event combining both water and land based activities. This event will highlight the beauty of Lough Erne and the Crom Estate and encourage more people to visit this beautiful spot. For the first time ever these historic crafts will race against each other and I am sure this event will be a wonderful family event, so Crom Estate is the place to be from 27th to the 30th August.”

Jim Chestnutt, National Trust Property Manager for Fermanagh concluded “This unique event combines four days of activities around Lough Erne and the magnificent Crom Estate.  Visitors will have the opportunity to walk along the banks of the Lough and take in the sights, sounds and smells of the magnificent classic sail and steam yachts. Combined with an array of other activities including vintage car displays and an opportunity for children and young persons to try sailing with Lough Erne Yacht Club, free of charge, the four day event is guaranteed to draw in crowds of visitors.”

Waterways Ireland has, since the 2nd of August been removing over 30 tonnes of weed from Upper Lough Erne on Ireland's inland waterways per week. In a concerted programme of weed cutting and removal the North-South Body has been working intensively to keep the Erne System’s main navigation channel between Belturbet and Enniskillen open to navigation. Water levels and weather during the spring and summer have combined to provide conditions for mass aquatic weed growth. Aquatic weed is now present in quantities not encountered since 2004.

Boaters are advised to navigate with caution in the main and secondary channels on Upper Lough Erne. Mass weed is present in many shallow bays and other shallow areas of the Upper Lough and boaters should either avoid these areas or exercise caution.

Waterways Ireland purchased a specialist weed harvester in 2005 and has been using it to remove between 30 and 40 tonnes of weed per week from the navigation.  Harvesting began on 2 August and is concentrated initially on the main navigation channel between Belturbet and Enniskillen. When resources allow, harvesting in the secondary channels will be undertaken.

Harvesting, handling and disposal of weed is carried out in line with procedures agreed with the Northern Ireland Environment Agency.

If snagged by weed, boaters should turn off the engine and use a safe means to de-foul the propeller and water intake. If the water intake has been blocked, close the fresh water internal isolation valve and clear the filter.

Up-to-date navigational information for any part of the Erne System may be obtained from the Lough Erne Warden on Tel no +44 28 6632 2836.