A week of events to celebrate the 21st anniversary of the Heritage Boat Association is already under way at Ballinasloe Harbour.

All welcome to come view the barges, some of which date back to back to 1847, and explore the past of Ireland’s inland waterways with the HBA and the Inland Waterways Association of Ireland’s (IWAI) River Suck branch along with Waterways Ireland and Galway County Council.

Highlights include a heritage tour of Ballinasloe guide by local historian Sean Tully from 7pm this Wednesday 1 June. The 90-minute walking tour covers the history of the Grand Canal and River Suck, and meets at the Heron Sculpture in the harbour at 7pm sharp.

Then Saturday 4 June brings Cruinniú, a family friendly event from 1pm-5pm showcasing Ireland’s cultural heritage with arts and crafts, butter making, a flea circus and a talk on the famous Galway Hooker sailing boats.

Take a look at the historic Bolinder engine, the power plant that replaced horses on the Grand Canal barge fleet, and enjoy music in the harbour all afternoon with the Ballinasloe Town band and Bobby Kilkenny & Friends.

Later on the day, join Dr Christy Cunniffe in the marquee at 5.30pm for a historic talk on the Ballinasloe Grand Canal branch from Fannings lock to Ballinasloe, and at 6.30pm Conor Nolan will give a talk about the Heritage Boat Association.

For more, download the full event brochure HERE.

Waterways Ireland wishes to advise masters of vessels on the Shannon Navigation that a diving operation and underwater survey will take place in the vicinity of Ballymacegan Island and Tiranascragh from this Wednesday 1 to Sunday 12 June.

These locations are approximately 8km upstream of Portumna Bridge on the inland waterway.

Safety vessels will be supporting the diving operation and temporary markers will be deployed to mark the dive area.

Masters of vessels are requested to proceed with additional caution in the vicinity of Ballymacegan Island and Tiranascragh during these scheduled works.

Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels on the Shannon Navigation that an Inland Fisheries Ireland fish stock survey will take place on Lough Ree from Tuesday 7 to Saturday 25 June.

Survey nets will be set in up to 100 locations on Lough Ree depending on weather and other factors. All nets will be marked with orange buoys and identified with “IFI Survey” markings.

IFI vessels will be operating by day and night on the inland waterway during the survey.

Masters of vessels are requested to maintain a sharp lookout while underway on Lough Ree and to give all marked buoys a wide berth.

Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels on the Shannon Navigation that the Heritage Boat Association will be celebrating its 21st anniversary with a rally in Ballinasloe Harbour from Saturday 28 May to Monday 6 June.

Masters of vessels are advised that up to 30 heritage vessels will be moored in Ballinasloe during the 10-day rally. For more see the Facebook event page HERE.

Waterways Ireland advises all masters of vessels and water users on the Shannon Navigation that Tarmonbarry Bridge and Lock in Co Longford will be closed from Tuesday 10 to Friday 13 May for further emergency repair works.

An alternative route via the Camlin River is available. Masters of vessels and water users are advised to check their airdraft prior to undertaking the passage on this inland waterway due to the low bridge on the N5 road.

Update 11/5: Waterways Ireland says Tarmonbarry Bridge and Lock have now been reopened to navigation. Essential maintenance works are continuing at Tarmonbarry Bridge and some minor delays may be experienced.

Waterways Ireland advises all masters of vessels and waterway users of the Shannon Navigation of an interruption to the power supply to the floating jetties at Shannonbridge in Co Offaly from tomorrow, Tuesday 26 to Thursday 28 April to facilitate essential repairs and maintenance works.

Waterways Ireland advises all masters of vessels and water users on the Shannnon Navigation that Rooskey Lifting Bridge and Rooskey Lock will be without power supply tomorrow, Friday 15 April from 9am until 4pm due to a notified ESB power supply interruption in the village.

Construction of a new pedestrian and cycleway bridge across the Shannon Navigation in Athlone will commence on Tuesday 3 May, Waterways Ireland confirms.

The greenway bridge is funded from a €8.1 million allocation to the Galway-to-Dublin Greenway and will be built some 50 metres upstream of Athlone town bridge.

The navigation channel in the vicinity of the in-water works will be restricted to a width of 15 metres from 3 May. Both sides of the navigation channel will be buoyed with temporary makers.

Large barges, workboats and other equipment will be operating in the navigation from Wansboro’s field (upstream of the railway bridge) to Athlone town bridge.

Masters of vessels are advised to proceed with additional caution in the vicinity of the works and to follow the instructions of safety craft and personnel in the area.

Phase 1 of the project commencing in May involves the installation of a cofferdam which will take around four weeks to complete. Waterways Ireland says it will advise details of further phases in due course.

Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels and water users on the Shannon Navigation that Tarmonbarry Lock in Co Longford is closed until further notice due to emergency repair works.

An alternative route via the Camlin River is available. Masters are advised to check their air draft prior to undertaking passage on this inland waterway due to the low bridge on the N5 road.

Waterways Ireland reminds masters of vessels on the Shannon Navigation and Shannon-Erne Waterway that the winter mooring period for these inland waterways ended last Thursday 31 March.

Shannon Navigation Bye-Law No 17(3) now applies, such that vessels should not berth in the same harbour for longer than the statutory period of five consecutive days nor more than a total of seven days in any one month.