Artists from Poland and Ireland have created a new mural on the banks of the Grand Canal in Portobello that celebrates Irish-Polish relations is part of the PolskaÉire Festival 2021.

Dublin Lord Mayor Hazel Chu and Polish Ambassador to Ireland Anna Sochańska officially launched the mural, created by Aga Grandowicz and Una Woods, in a ceremony yesterday morning (Wednesday 23 June).

The project is the initiative of the Embassy of Poland in Dublin, in celebration of 30 years of the embassy’s existence, in partnership with Waterways Ireland and Dublin City Council.

Lord Mayor Chu said: “I am delighted to launch this mural as a sign of Irish-Polish connection both in the city of Dublin but also in all the corners of Ireland. Let it be a reminder that the ties between the Polish community and the Irish people stay strong and will remain so in the years to come.

“Over the last 15 years we have welcomed over 100 thousand Polish people here in Ireland. During that time they have contributed significantly to the prosperity and cultural diversity of our country — for this we say thank you.

“I am sure that the local community of Portobello also greatly appreciates this new addition to the landscape. This mural radiates such positive energy and vibrancy that it will lift anyone’s spirits.”

Ambassador Sochańska added: “I am honoured to celebrate Irish-Polish relations in the form of this uplifting, colourful mural inspired by Irish and Polish folk art.

“The Irish shamrock and the Polish floral motif from folk paper cutouts perfectly symbolise the two cultures and how they interlink. The two birds, the starling and the robin, taking centre stage of the design, relate so well to the two countries’ natural heritage.”

Waterways Ireland advises masters and owners of vessels on the Shannon Navigation that a water quality monitoring buoy will be deployed on the western side of Lough Derg close to the entrance to Dromaan Harbour in Co Clare this week.

The monitoring buoy will be yellow in colour and be approximately three metres in height. The buoy will remain in position for up to four years.

Masters of vessels are requested to navigation with additional caution in the vicinity of the buoy.

Waterways Ireland advises master of vessels on the Royal Canal that due to ongoing serious mechanical issues with Begnagh Lift Bridge, it can only be operated manually.

The current scheduled dates for lift operation are Fridays 25 June, 2 and 9 July at 11am each day.

Prior notice must be given two days in advance to the water patroller in Clondra on 087 915 1400.

​Waterways Ireland has announced the creation of a non-motorised ‘safe play’ zone at Castle Archdale Country Park on Lower Lough Erne in Co Fermanagh.
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Echoing a similar scheme currently in operation at Muckross Bay in Kesh, Enniskillen, the new zone will operate until October and is located between the existing caravan park and Davy’s Island, delineated with floating buoys.
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​In temporarily closing off a section of the navigation to motorised craft, the cross-border body for the inland waterways is exercising its powers under the Lough Erne (Navigation) Bye-laws (Northern Ireland) 1978 as amended by The Lough Erne (Navigation) (Amendment) Bye-laws (Northern Ireland) 1986.
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​The aim of the proposal is to improve safety in the area, which has become increasingly popular with all types of waterway enthusiasts in recent years. It also comes after reports of a rise in personal watercraft infringements into swimming areas, as previously reported on Afloat.ie.

Waterways Ireland has issued an update for masters and owners regarding boat passage arrangements in or out of Dublin on the Grand and Royal canals in 2021.

Movements in or out of the city will continue to be organised by prior arrangement to take place as a single movement in one day.

Boaters will be facilitated to travel the system if their passage is considered to be safe by Waterways Ireland and they have the valid permit(s) for mooring and passage.

In order to plan the necessary lock assistance for movements east of Lock 12 on either canal, masters are required to contact the Waterways Ireland Eastern Regional Office by email [email protected] or 01 868 0148 prior to making passage.

At time of making contact, masters are asked to provide the following details:

• Length, beam, water & air drafts of your craft (provide approximates if don't have exact dimensions)
• Phone/email contact details
• Permit number and expiry date of current canal permit

On the Grand Canal, a minimum of two days’ notice prior to planned passage must be given and, with the exception of pre-arranged events, a maximum of two boats per day will be taken through the locks, travelling either east or west. In certain circumstances, eg for slower or larger barges, the limit will be one boat per day.

Due to periodic anti-social activity along some of canal route into Dublin, boat passage will also not be possible in certain weather conditions and at weekends over the late spring and summer period. This can be planned for at time of making contact, and suitable arrangements for passage made.

On the Royal Canal, repairs and upgrades are ongoing to Spencer Dock Sea Lock so boat passage through here remains suspended at this time and no bridge lift dates have been set for Newcomen Lift Bridge. Should there be updates to this position, details of these will be advised in a separate notice.

Masters and owners are also reminded to ensure that they have the following before making the passage through the city locks on either of these inland waterways:

• Adequate fuel on board
• Competent and adequate crew to operate the boat and locks (minimum crew of three)
• A lock key on board their boat
• Mooring lines of adequate length to handle vessel through a lock (approx.15m length)
• No known mechanical problems with their boat

Waterways Ireland reserve the right to postpone passage to another day if all of these are not in place.

Passages can be arranged in this boating season from June until the end of October. Also note that aquatic weed is generally more prevalent as the season progresses which can hamper passage.

Boaters will be facilitated as far as practicable although Waterways Ireland cannot guarantee that passage will be possible on every planned date. Early contact will greatly assist planning and facilitate the making of the necessary arrangements.

Waterways Ireland advises masters and owners of vessels that low water levels exist on the upstream approaches to Meelick and Victoria Lock, north of Portumna on the Shannon Navigation.

Water levels are currently up to 39cm below summer levels as the sluices are open at Meelick Weir, which creates a draw-down of water levels in the area.

Masters of vessels, particularly those with deep drafts, are advised to navigate with additional caution and to remain within the navigation at all times.

Waterways Ireland has notified masters and owners of vessels at Grand Canal Dock in Dublin that diving operations originally set to take place on Thursday 10 June will now go ahead on Tueaday 15 June.

The operation is for an underwater survey of the anchor systems on the existing moorings in Grand Canal Basin. The cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways apologies for any inconvenience caused.

Waterways Ireland advises masters and owners of vessels that due to technical difficulties, the lifting bridge on the Grand Canal’s Barrow Line at Monasterevin cannot currently be opened for navigation traffic.

Staff are working to put the bridge back in operation, and the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways says it hopes to issue an update by the coming weekend.

Waterways Ireland advises users of the Shannon Navigation that that Tarmonbarry Lock will reopen following emergency lock gate repairs from 9am tomorrow, Saturday 29 May.

Some restrictions in the operation of the gates remain in place, therefore vessels are advised to take additional care when approaching the lock.

Waterways Ireland notifies users of the Royal Canal that navigation in and out of Dublin is suspended until the completion of various lock gate repair works.

Repairs and/or upgrades are being conducted at Lock 12 in Castleknock, Lock 10 in Ashtown and the Spencer Dock Sea Lock.

In addition, users of the towpath between Lock 3 on Whitworth Road and Lock 5 at Cross Guns in Drumcondra are advised that Iarnród Éireann will be undertaking works to the boundary wall over the coming weeks.

Any impact on towpath use should be limited, but pedestrian management measures will be put in place if required and the canal towpath will remain open throughout, Waterways Ireland says.