#InlandWaters - Waterways Ireland says it has already received a "hugely positive response" following engagement with interested parties from local communities, activity providers, accommodation and food establishments in relation to the Barrow Blueway project.

A series of public information events have taken place in Carlow, Kilkenny, Laois and Kildare where hundreds attended and viewed the proposals, designs, route selection and surface types.

Waterways Ireland staff were also on hand to deal with any queries in relation to the design and environmental aspects of the Barrow Blueway.

Presentations to the local authorities and their elected members have also taken place in Carlow, Kildare and Laois with the presentation to Kilkenny local authority scheduled to take place in January.

There is also one additional public information event planned to take place in Rathangan, Co Kildare next month.

The cross-border body for Ireland's main inland navigations said it is happy to receive feedback on the project which, together with that received both at the public information events and local authority presentation, will be reviewed and incorporated into the project proposal where possible.

Waterways Ireland will then apply to the relevant authorities for planning approval for the Barrow Blueway project in early 2015.

#InlandWaters - Waterways Ireland's 2015 Sponsorship Programme opened this Wednesday 29 October for waterway and waterside recreational events taking place along waterways managed by Waterways Ireland.

Taking place annually for the past nine years, the Waterways Ireland Sponsorship Programme has supported angling, canoeing, rowing, sailing and power sports competitions, learning experiences, community, historical and educational events for people with and without disabilities.

Éanna Rowe, head of marketing and communications with Waterways Ireland, said: "Communities, clubs and associations in towns and villages along rural waterways have participated in small and large events.

"Significant numbers of people have been encouraged to engage and experience something new about the waterways."

Rowe added: "The myriad events supported by Waterways Ireland play both an economic and social role in supporting waterway communities and recreational activity along Ireland's inland waterways."

Applications are open to anyone intending to run recreational waterway and waterside events in 2015. For an application pack please check out the Waterways Ireland website HERE.

Alternatively you can email Waterways Ireland at [email protected] or call 071 96 50787. Terms and conditions apply.

The closing date the receipt of completed applications is 5 December 2014 at 3pm.

Waterways Ireland is the recreation and navigation authority for the Barrow Navigation, Erne System, Grand Canal, Lower Bann Navigation, Royal Canal, Shannon-Erne Waterway and the Shannon Navigation.

#InlandWaters - Waterways Ireland is inviting submissions from all interested parties, groups and individuals before commencing the development of a Heritage & Biodiversity Plan for the waterways under its care.

The cross-border agency for Ireland's inland waterways is particularly seeking input into the issues and/or projects that should be addressed.

Beginning tomorrow Monday 20 October and running till 12 January 2015, interested stakeholders can complete an online survey (or submit by email or post) to gauge waterways users' vision for the natural and cultural heritage of our rivers, lakes and canals.

Future consultations will seek input on Waterways Ireland's proposed Disability Action Plan, new Lough Erne bye-laws, and Environmental and Heritage Policy going forward. For more see the Waterways Ireland website HERE.

#InlandWaters - Waterways Ireland is carrying out research via an open survey on the contribution of boating to the Irish economy.

The online survey is open to all boat owners on Ireland's inland waterways, and seeks information about their purchasing and maintenance expenditure, as well as the ongoing expense of using a craft on the inland waterways over the past year.

The survey is a repeat of the Economic Contribution of Private Boat Owners survey carried out in 2006, which is available to download at the Waterways Ireland website.

All boat owners are invited to visit the Open Surveys section of the website and complete the survey to have their say before 30 October 2014. The survey should take 10-12 minutes to complete.

The survey results will be available on the Waterways Ireland website as soon as the report is published.

#The Carrick-on-Shannon Rowing Regatta will be held on Sunday 3 August 2014 on a 400 metres stretch of water immediately south of the town bridge commencing at 08:00hr and finishing at approx. 18.00hr. Craft wishing to make a through passage will be facilitated every 2 hrs approximately, during the course of the regatta. Mooring restrictions will apply in Carrick-on-Shannon to facilitate the Regatta.

Hundreds of spectators are expected at the event, one of the final events of the season, which is supported by Waterways Ireland through its sponsorship programme.

In the interest of marine safety and to facilitate the laying of the competition course access to the floating moorings will be restricted in the run-up to and during the event itself. Only vessels of an overall length of 22ft. /6.8m or less will be permitted on the floating jetties from Fri 1 to Sunday 3 August. Vessels berthed from Friday 1st 16.00hr will be required to remain in place until racing finishes at approx 18.00hr on Sunday 3 August.

The floating jetties will be closed off on 16.00hr Friday and approx 18.00hr Sunday and manoeuvring room will be severely restricted due to the proximity of the course. As a result no vessels should approach the jetties between these times. Access to the floating jetties will be monitored from Monday 28 July.
Masters are advised to proceed at slow speed and with due caution and to take note of advice from course marshals when passing through the area. Waterways Ireland takes this opportunity to thank its customers for their co-operation with these arrangements.
Further information can be had by contacting Waterways Ireland Inspectorate +353 (0)87 985 2324 or Operations Division North Shannon +353 (0)71 96 50787.

#MaritimeFestival – The Docklands Summer Festival, which this year is sponsored by Waterways Ireland, is a celebration of the Grand Canal Dock next weekend (17-18 May) and where entertainment and competitions are held on the water and on dry land.

The festival continues to entertain, from open air DJ's, Come Try it Sessions, Wake Boarding demonstrations to international food markets, the festival organisers promise an entertaining and fun filled weekend for all.

On the water activities include a wakeboarding competition, charity rubber ducky race, water sports, 'Come and Try It' sessions in kayaking and a canal barge gathering.

Additionally, there is plenty of activity for families to enjoy such as open air DJ's, an outdoor market, corporate golf challenge, street performers, balloon artists, face painters, fun fair attractions, & children's arts centre and theatre performances in the Waterways Ireland Visitor Centre.

Come and see world-class wakeboarding demonstrations on Saturday or watch as world-class wakeboarders, from up to seven countries to take part in the first International Wakeboarding Championship at Grand Canal Dock.

The wakeboard extravaganza will be formed by members of the International Waterski & Wakeboard Federation (IWWF). Irish teams will give wakeboarding demonstrations in the Grand Canal Dock on Saturday.

On the following Sunday, International riders will compete with the world's best water skiing skills and tricks over ramps while being towed behind a high performance motorboat.

East Wall Water Sports Centre will be on hand during the festival each day from 11am until 5pm to take you on the water to try out kayaking! Festival rates of €10 per adult and €5 per child. For more details of festival programme visit this link.

#MarineNotice - The latest Marine Notice from Waterways Ireland advises masters and owners of vessels of the inherent dangers posed by the wash of larger vessels on craft such as rowing craft and small open boats.

The very low freeboard, particularly of rowing craft, makes them susceptible to being swamped and capsized by a large wash.

Masters should be on the look-out for such vessel when navigating and reduce their vessel's wash well in advance of passing these craft and be mindful of any requests from safety boats accompanying rowers.

#NaomhEanna - A vessel considered the 'last Irish heritage ship' is set to be cut up this week as a campaign mounts to save her from the scrapheap.

The Naomh Eanna was built in 1956 in Dublin's Docklands and previously served as a passenger ferry in Galway Bay between the mainland and the Aran Islands.

Said to be "one of the last riveted ships built in the world", she has spent the last 28 years in a state of neglect at Grand Canal Dock and is reported to be taking on water, though it's believed she retains many of her original fittings and machine parts.

Last week it emerged that ownership of the Naomh Eanna has transferred to Waterways Ireland, who intend to tow her into the Grand Canal graving dock this week to begin disposal.

But according to Sam Field Corbett of marine heritage restoration business Irish Ship & Barge Fabrication, "no consideration was given to salvage and restore her".

Corbett says he is confident that a business plan can be prepared to attract investment for the Naomh Eanna's restoration - but fears that the scrapping plans may proceed with haste before any alternative resolution is considered.

In order for campaigners to save her, some €100,000 costs to Waterways Ireland would need to be met, on top of insuring the vessel and getting permission from NAMA to hold her in dry dock until repairs could begin.

In its first marine notice of 2014 Waterways Ireland has moved to advise of the dangers posed at at harbours, jetties and moorings during thew current stormy weather. 

Masters and Owners of vessels berthed in public harbours, at jetties or moorings are advised against visiting any vessels or boats during periods of extreme weather such as storm force winds and heavy rainfall.

Strong winds are a hazard to personal safety if walking on or near navigation infrastructure and also because of blown debris from trees or buildings in the vicinity. There is also the hazard of the unpredictable nature of rising water levels and their effect on built infrastructure.

At present a number of mooring facilities and access ramps to same and the approach roads and paths to their associated car parks are underwater or are inaccessible across all navigations.

Fast flowing currents, eddies and turbulent water will be experienced in and around these structures for some time after the storms have passed.

Mooring lines and cleats on vessels at these facilities will be under strain as will the shore bollards that they are made fast to. Extreme care should be exercised when releasing lines in these circumstances to avoid them snapping back and causing injury. There is also the danger of deck cleats, which may have been weakened whilst under strain, pulling out and striking a person when engaged in this activity.

Waterways Ireland further advises that full personal protective equipment such as lifejacket and foul weather gear be worn if it is deemed necessary to visit a craft in a harbour that the visit is undertaken in company with a colleague and that someone has been advised of an expected return time. A fully charged mobile phone should be carried in the event of an emergency and the visit should be made during daylight hours.

C J Lawn
Lt Cdr (rtd)
Inspector of Navigation
3 Jan 2014.
Tel: 00 353 (0)90 6494232

#inlandwaters – The first official duty of the new Chief Executive of Waterways Ireland Dawn Livingstone, will be wishing bon voyage to a group of young people from Belfast and Clare who will travel south to Scariff in Co. Clare as part of a North/South Youth Exchange based on the inland waterways.

In a week-long journey along the course of the Shannon, 16 Belfast & Clare teenagers will travel from Enniskillen to the east Clare town with leaders Emma Sams from Clare Youth Service and Tony McGaharan from Peace Players International (NI) to coincide with the Waterways Ireland Scariff Harbour Festival 1-5st August.

Waterways Ireland Scariff Harbour Festival, in partnership with Clare Youth Service and Peace Players International (NI), proposed the exchange which is financially supported by Léargas, a National Agency for cooperation programmes, and the Reconciliation and Anti-Sectarian Funds Division of the Republic's Department of Foreign Affairs.

Waterways Ireland Chief Executive Dawn Livingstone in welcoming both groups to Enniskillen confirmed "Waterways Ireland's ongoing commitment to support the establishment and growth of recreation & tourism in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland is exemplified by this type of project which in addition facilitates greater understanding among the communities along the waterways. We are delighted to have supported this aspect of the Scariff Harbour Festival since its inauguration"

Scariff Harbour Festival Committee shares in the excitement that this particular cross community event has engendered. From the very first festival in 2003, developing links with young people in Northern Ireland, the promotion of Lough Derg and the inland waterways have been the Festival focus. Each year since 2004, young anglers North & South compete on Lough Derg for the David Ervine Memorial Trophy.

Michael Rodgers, Chairman of the Festival Committee said that this kind of initiative dovetails perfectly with our aim of encouraging people to use the waterways. 'At the same time it affirms the core belief of all partners that involving young people with different views and experiences in shared activities is a most productive and valuable exercise,' he added.

On the 27th July the Clare teenagers and their leaders will travel to Carlingford where they will be met at the border by their counterparts from Peace Players International (NI). Following a guided tour of Belfast the joint group will travel to Enniskillen, the headquarters of Waterways Ireland from where they begin their journey south.

A combination of workshops on difference and identity, barbecues and cultural evenings, outdoor and sporting activities with stops offs at Lough Key and Holy Island on Lough Derg, the group will follow the route of the Shannon by boat and bus. They will be hosted by a local youth club in Carrick-on-Shannon and present a prepared workshop to them.

Patricia Dalton of Léargas who has supported this youth exchange project, sees this adventure as an important activity engaging young people to explore cross-border and cross-community relationships. 'It helps them to develop transferable skills for their future lives and we wish the young people every success in this exciting, educational and worthwhile experience,' she said.

Peace Players International Northern Ireland is a cross community peace building organisation established to unite and educate young people from Protestant & Catholic communities. They aim to find common ground and forge new friendships through a mix of sports actvities and workshops helping them to adjust to the complexities that can accompany growing up in a post conflict society.

James Hughes of PPI NI said "We are very excited for a select group of our young people to be taking part in this inspiring cross-border youth initiative. PeacePlayers International aims to unite children from divided communities through sport. Through this programme, we will be bringing together young people from across the city of Belfast and connecting with young men and women from County Clare. We have no doubt that this adventure will be a positive experience for the all those involved."

Scariff Harbour Festival runs from Thursday 1st to Sunday 4th August 2013 and includes singers Damien Dempsey, Frances Black and Ryan Sheridan, Druid Chef Rory Monahan, walks, talks, boat tours, family fun day, Queen of the Waterways, street arts and crafts and more.