Waterways Ireland reminds all masters and owners of vessels on the Grand Canal, Royal Canal, Barrow Line and Barrow Navigation that all canal permits expired on 1 November 2022 and must be renewed for 2023.

Permits can be renewed online at the Waterways Ireland website HERE.

The cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways emphasises that vessels with no permit, as required by Bye Law 6(8) of the Canals Act, will be “removed as operationally convenient”.

Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels and waterway users on Lough Ree on the Shannon Navigation that the port-hand lateral marker on the south side of Inchmore Island is now back on station.

The temporary red buoy installed in early January has now been removed, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways says.

Waterways Ireland advises masters and owners of vessels on the Erne System that the Erne Head of the River rowing race will take place this Saturday 4 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 4pm. There will be around 100 rowing crews participating in two events: the Women’s Eight at 11am and the Men’s Eight at 1.30pm.

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 and users of the Grand Canal in the Dublin area that construction of the greenway is ongoing and will necessitate lowering of water levels west of the city from this weekend.

Following recent works between Lock 13 and Lock 14, the water level between Lock 12 at Lucan Road and Lock 13 at Ardclough will be lowered by 200mm for a period of two weeks from Friday 3 March.

This is to accommodate stone works under Aylmer’s Bridge in Kearneystown as part of the ongoing Kildare County Council Phase 1 Greenway works, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways adds.

This year, Waterways Ireland’s partnership with the St Patrick’s Festival will celebrate the beloved Dublin canals as one of 10 showpiece performances in the capital’s St Patrick’s Day Parade on Friday 17 March.

With half a million spectators expected to line this year’s route, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways says it’s proud to showcase and celebrate the history, heritage and recreational vibrancy of the Dublin canals as integral parts of Ireland’s culture.

As the parade passes by look out for ‘Uiscebhéal’, a performance inspired by the values of sustainability and community that will highlight the role of the Grand Canal and Royal Canal in the life of the city.

John McDonagh, Waterways Ireland chief executive said: “Our treasured historic canals are familiar welcoming places for generations, spaces for recreation, inspiration for artists and a sanctuary where nature can survive and thrive.

“It is a pleasure to have worked with the St Patrick’s Festival team to recognise the significance of the Royal and Grand canals in Dublin through this wonderful performance.”

Richard Tierney, St Patrick’s Festival CEO added: “Our partnership with Waterways Ireland celebrates some of the most intrinsic and loved parts of Dublin and Ireland, we are thrilled to shine a light on the usage of the canals and the many ways we can all enjoy these great amenities.”

The St Patrick’s Festival takes place in Dublin and nationwide from Thursday 16 to Sunday 19 March.

Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels and users of the Grand Canal that construction of the greenway is ongoing as previously reported on Afloat.ie.

As part of these works, water levels on the canal will be lowered by 400mm in northeast Co Kildare between Lock 13 at Ardclough and Lock 14 at Devonshire Bridge from Monday 20 February for a period of six weeks.

Waters are being lowered to accommodate greenway works under Henry Bridge, Ponsonby Bridge and Devonshire Bridge.

Further notices will be issued in due course to provide updates as the works progress, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways adds.

Construction has started on Phase 3 of the Royal Canal Greenway, which runs from Dublin’s North Strand to Phibsborough.

Phase 3 of the project will come in at a cost of just under €31 million and will provide 2.1km of pedestrian and cycle track along the banks of the Royal Canal, extending from Newcomen Bridge at the North Strand Road to Crossguns Bridge in Phibsborough.

Upon completion, which is expected in the second quarter of 2025, there will be a continuous 3.2km cycling and walking route through the north city from Phibsborough to the River Liffey.

It will include accessible ramps from the canal towpath to all road crossings, a new pedestrian and cycle bridge across the Royal Canal and a new community plaza.

The route will also form part of the Dublin to Galway Greenway, which was first announced in 2012 by then-Transport Minister Leo Varadkar and was due to be completed in 2020.

The Phase 3 works to the Royal Canal Greenway were approved in 2015 but the tender was not issued until April of last year. The project is a collaboration between Dublin City Council, Waterways Ireland and Irish Rail.

In addition to cycling and walking network upgrades, the project — in partnership with ESB Networks — will also facilitate future electricity network upgrades.

On Friday (17 February) Dublin City Council turned the sod on the project and Lord Mayor of Dublin Caroline Conroy said she was “delighted to have reached the point where we can begin work on this immensely important project”.

She added that the greenway “will also play an important part in our common objective of reducing our carbon footprint”.

Meanwhile, Transport Minister Eamon Ryan said the project “will link communities, friends, schools and sporting facilities” along the way.

Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe labelled it a “hugely exciting project for the city but equally a very important one for the North Inner City and Dublin Central”.

Elsewhere, chief executive officer of the National Transport Authority, Anne Graham explained more about the Phase 3 works.

“The delivery of this section will provide safe segregated cycling along the Royal Canal, linking the docklands to many of the city’s radial transport corridors, and on to places like Clontarf, Swords and the airport, Ballymun and Finglas, and to the planned Glasnevin Metrolink station,” she said.

Máirín Ó Cuireáin, Waterways Ireland’s Dublin development manager added that these works “will link Spencer Dock in Dublin 1 with Maynooth in Co Kildare, where the Royal Canal Greenway goes all the way to the Shannon”.

Waterways Ireland advises users of the Royal Canal in Dublin between Lock 1 at the North Strand Road and Lock 5 at Phibsborough that cycleway upgrade works have recently commenced on this stretch of the canal.

Facilitating these works will require closures of the canal towpaths in the area over the upcoming months through the spring and summer period, with diversion signage erected where applicable, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways says.

Meanwhile, navigation of this area will still be possible during these works, though some additional restrictions may apply. Any affect on planned passage will be advised at time of making contact, it adds.

Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels and waterway users on the Shannon Navigation that replacement of the upstream lock gates at Clarendon Lock is ongoing and the lock will now reopen for navigation on Friday 3 March.

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, February had been the original target date for reopening of the lock in Co Roscommon after its closure for works on the lock gates on 1 November last.

Waterways Ireland advises all masters of vessels and waterways users on the Barrow Navigation that the construction of the Athy Distributor Road Bridge has progressed to stage three with the bridge deck installation.

Resulting from this, new navigation and pedestrian management measures enable the navigation channel and trackway in this area will remain open to users.

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, the new road bridge is being built some 30 metres downstream of the currently disused Wolfhill Railway Bridge in Athy, Co Kildare

Masters of vessels are advised of the following:

• Navigation is restricted to the navigation channel only for all vessels and water users, including canoes, PWCs etc.
• Follow the safety and directional signage.
• Follow the instructions of safety personnel who will be present on the navigation during crane lifting operations.

Trackway users are advised to follow the safety and directional signage; and to follow the instructions of safety personnel who will be present on the trackway during crane lifting operations.

Masters of vessels and trackway users are advised to exercise caution in the vicinity of the works. Further temporary closures and restrictions will be required for the refurbishment of Wolfhill Railway Bridge, with details to be advised in due course.