Waterways Ireland has welcomed the announcement by Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Heather Humphreys, TD, of €842,000 funding under the REDZ (Rural Economic Development Zones) initiative, which will stimulate economic development along rural waterways, Blueways and their hinterlands. The contribution to communities across the waterway corridors is highly significant as the development of high quality assets provide a suitable platform for development of new businesses, employment and growth all of which will impact on quality of life and recreational opportunities in waterway communities.

Under the 2016 REDZ scheme, just over €5.3 million was approved for 41 projects of which 8 were Local Authority-led projects impacting on the wider waterway network; from Bagnelstown on the Barrow to Banagher on the Shannon and Scarriff/Nenagh on Lough Derg, to Ballinamore on the Shannon-Erne Waterway.

Announcing the funding, Minister Humphreys said “The REDZ scheme aims to improve links between rural towns and their hinterlands to stimulate activity at a local level. It is one of a number of schemes which my Department has been rolling out to boost economic activity and improve living standards across rural Ireland."

Dawn Livingstone, Chief Executive, Waterways Ireland stated " We look forward to working with the Local Authorities in the future including the County Councils in Carlow, Westmeath, Tipperary, Clare, Galway, Longford and Leitrim in the further development of assets, including the Blueways initiative, that will draw both local people and tourists to experience the unique and special communities along our navigations."

The projects that successfully received funding along the waterways corridors include:
€100,000 Bagnelstown, Carlow: Enhancement of Tourism potential using a multi-centre approach in Co Carlow
€50,000 Banagher, Offaly: Enhance town around marina
€96,000 Westmeath: Blueways and Greenways unlocking potential in the Athlone Municipal District
€96,000 Westmeath: The Royal Canal Cycleway Extension in the Mullingar Municipal District (Royal Canal to Lough Owel Amenity Area)
€100,000 Longford: Corlea Walking Route
€100,000 Clones, Monaghan: Greenway, car park
€100,000 Ballinamore, Leitrim: Assist towards the development of an Angling Centre
€200,000 Scarriff/Nenagh Clare: Scoping, Developing, Marketing & promoting the Lough Derg Blueway.

#InlandWaters - Waterways Ireland has launched its 2017 Heritage in the Community Grants Programme in support of the Waterways Ireland Heritage Plan 2016-2020.

The Waterways Ireland Heritage Plan provides, for the first time, a strategic framework for the integration of built, natural and cultural heritage into the future management of our inland waterways.

A fund of €20,000 has been allocated to assist community-based heritage projects which compliment or fulfil the delivery of the Waterways Ireland Heritage Plan along the Barrow Navigation, Erne System, Grand Canal, Lower Bann, Royal Canal, Shannon Navigation, Shannon-Erne Waterway and the Ulster Canal (Upper Lough Erne to Clones).

Applications will be considered from communities, individuals and organisations seeking assistance for projects related to inland waterways heritage.

This can include data collection and research; good heritage practice in managing sites, collections, etc; and support fresh approaches and initiatives that promote active engagement with heritage.

The application form is available from the Waterways Ireland website. The deadline for receipt of completed applications is 31 January 2017 whether by email or post.​

A range of criteria will be used to assess the applications, including how well the project compliments or fulfils an action of the Waterways Ireland Heritage Plan 2016-2020, the extent to which proposed activities benefit local heritage, the level of innovation and the capacity of applicants to carry out the proposed project.

Some types of support will not be considered under the Waterways Ireland's Heritage Grant Scheme. The application form and guidelines should be reviewed for clear information on project eligibility. Only one grant per organisation is permitted. Grants up to €1,500 (£1,200) are available.

Contact Cormac McCarthy at +353 (0)61 922 149, +353 (0)87 278 7463 or at [email protected] for any queries relating to the grants scheme.

Waterways Ireland welcomed members of the Destination Fermanagh Industry Group on their recent visit to the Shannon Blueway in Co Leitrim. Private and public sector members of the group visited this latest Waterways Ireland award-winning innovation and met the development and marketing teams as well as local businesses that have started up or grown around the Blueway.

Welcomed by Waterways Ireland's Regional Manager Éanna Rowe and Director of Business Development, John Boyle, the visit began with an information session in the Lough Allen Hotel. Boats provided by Leitrim Quay were used to take the group from Drumshanbo to Acres Lake, where they toured the site and the new visitor centre and then onto to Drumleague. From Drumleague the group walked, used bikes provided by local business Electric Bike Trails or stayed on board the Leitrim Quay boats all the way to Battlebridge.

In Battlebridge the group toured the lock and lock-keepers house before crossing the river to Battlebridge Glamping where they enjoyed a tour of the site and the pods and walked into Leitrim village to have lunch in The Barge.

Eddie Mc Govern, Tourism Development Officer for Fermanagh & Omagh District Council said "it gave me a totally different perspective of an area, that I thought I knew very well. It's beautiful and cycling along the canal (even in the rain) showed the potential of the area. Those electric bikes are so good ".

John Boyle Waterways Ireland, commenting on the visit said "Waterways Ireland have developed and led the Blueways initiative across our waterway network as we believe in its potential to activate significantly increased recreational and tourism use of the waterway corridors. The visit of Destination Fermanagh members is important to grow awareness of this award-winning initiative, and to provide a deeper understanding of how working together, a Blueways initiative on the Erne system could deliver more visitors to Fermanagh".

Progress is continuing on this collaborative approach to Blueway development on Lough Erne.

#InlandWaters - Waterways Ireland completed the first week of its pilot 'Water Project' for post-primary schools last Friday 30 September.

Ninety students and teachers from four second-level schools in Co Fermanagh are engaged in water-based learning activities on Lough Erne as part of the two-week pilot educational project which concludes tomorrow (Friday 7 October).

Pupils and teachers from St Fanchea's College, St Aidan's High School, Devenish College and St Joseph's College undertook the two-day programme at Waterways Ireland's headquarters in Enniskillen, where they took part in biodiversity workshops and discovered some of the many fascinating water-based creatures, birds and aquatic plants that exist along the shoreline of Lough Erne.

They also rowed a 33ft currach in the Bronze Age style, and learned the techniques of angling, before diving into kayaking and a heritage workshop in Fermanagh Castle Museum earlier this week.

Initial feedback from both students and teachers has been positive, according to Waterways Ireland, which adds that at the end of the two-week pilot all feedback from partners and participants will be gathered to inform an evaluation report and future development of the project in the months ahead.

​The Water Project has been developed and implemented in partnership with Row the Erne; Erne Paddlers; Inland Fisheries (DAERA) and the National Coarse Fishing Federation of Ireland; Fermanagh Castle Museum; RSPB and the Ulster Wildlife Trust.
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​Waterways Ireland has ongoing educational work with primary schools centred on the waterways. The Water Project aims to promote awareness and knowledge of the importance of Lough Erne and access to its many recreational activity opportunities for secondary students.

Waterways Ireland has successfully completed the first week of an innovative pilot 'Water Project' for post-primary schools on the 30th September 2106. 90 students and teachers from four second level schools in Co Fermanagh engaged in water based learning activities on Lough Erne as part of the two week pilot educational project which runs until 7th October.

The 'Water Project' has been developed and implemented in partnership with Row the Erne; Erne Paddlers; Inland Fisheries (DAERA) and the National Coarse Fishing Federation of Ireland; Fermanagh Castle Museum; RSPB and the Ulster Wildlife Trust. Waterways Ireland has ongoing educational work with primary schools centred on the waterways. This 'Water Project' has enabled Waterways Ireland to work with these partners to realise shared goals, promoting awareness and knowledge of the importance of Lough Erne and access to its many recreational activity opportunities for secondary level students.

Pupils and teachers from St. Fanchea's College, St Aidan's High School, Devenish College and St. Joseph's College undertook the two day programme at Waterways Ireland's headquarters in Enniskillen. The students took part in biodiversity workshops where they discovered some of the many fascinating water based creatures, birds and aquatic plants that exist along the shoreline of Lough Erne. They rowed a 33ft Bronze Age style currach, and also learnt the techniques of Angling. Week 2 students commencing on 4th October will have a different series of activities, including kayaking, biodiversity workshops and a heritage workshop in Fermanagh Castle Museum.

Initial feedback from both students and teachers on the success of 'The Water Project' has been hugely positive. At the end of the two week pilot all the feedback from partners and participants will be gathered to inform an evaluation report and future development of the project in the months ahead.

#InlandWaters - Waterways Ireland was on hand to welcome Mary McInerney and Jorgen Bjerknes’ new ‘boatel’ on arrival in Enniskillen earlier this week as part of their tour of the Erne System.

Based between Carrick-on-Shannon and Enniskillen, the married couple launched their converted barge Lovely Leitrim – which also operates as a private party venue and pop-up restaurant – in April this year, according to The Irish Times.

Lovely Leitrim is one of eight new businesses supported and licensed by Waterways Ireland in the past 12 months, a number that includes Water Taxi NI and Erne Boat Hire on the same waterways.

The other six start-ups are based on the River Shannon, the Shannon Erne Waterway and the Grand Canal.

Speaking on Monday 26 September, Waterways Ireland head of property Sinead Mallon said: “It's great to have welcomed two new businesses on the Erne system this year and we look forward to hearing from other entrepreneurs with their business ideas.”

Waterways Ireland invites people with new business ideas or existing business who wish to consider relocating to the Erne System to start discussions with the property and legal team by completing a Commercial Operating Licence form available online at www.waterwaysireland.org

#InlandWaters - Waterways Ireland has won the Guardian Award at the 2016 World Canals Conference for its Traditional Heritage Boat Survey of the Royal Canal, Grand Canal, Barrow Line Canal and Barrow Navigation.

Undertaken as part of the Waterways Ireland Heritage Plan launched earlier this year, the project was led by environment officer Cormac McCarthy, who attended the event in Scotland to receive the presentation.

The World Canals Conference took place Monday 19 to Thursday 22 September in Inverness, welcoming international waterway experts, business leaders and global professionals to join in celebrating and exploring innovation in sustainable tourism, regeneration, engineering and heritage management of our waterways and much more.

The Guardian Award is sponsored by Historic Environment Scotland and celebrates outstanding work to safeguard the heritage of the world's waterways.

In other inland waterways news, Two Cooks Restaurant & Wine Bar in Sallins, Co Kildare, on the banks of the Grand Canal, took the Taste of the Waterways Award for 2017 at the Georgina Campbell Awards.

The winning eatery – opened recently by Josef Zammit and Nicola Curran, a well known couple with a following among Kildare diners – is one of many featured in A Taste of the Waterways, the annual guide produced by Waterways Ireland in conjunction with Georgina Campbell.

Other waterfront winners at the latest ceremony include Viewmount House in Longford, along the Royal Canal, which was named Country House of the Year, and Country Choice in Neagh, Co Tipperary, a popular rest stop on for Shannon boaters, which won the award For Services to Irish Food & Hospitality.

#InlandWaters - Waterways Ireland will be throwing open the WI Archive to the public on Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 September to celebrate European Heritage Open Days 2016.

Waterways Ireland HQ in Enniskillen will be open between 12pm and 5pm both days next weekend for free guided tours of the archives and building.

All are welcome to pop in for a visit and discover some of the interesting engineering maps, drawings and images of the waterways from the past 150 years.

To find out more email [email protected] or visit the Discover Northern Ireland website to download a brochure on all the special heritage events next weekend.

Hello and welcome aboard this week’s edition of Seascapes your maritime programme .......glad to be back this week after our break during the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro we salute the Irish competitors who participated and congratulate our medal winners and wish our Paralympians every success , writer and broadcaster Hugh Oram relates the tale of how The Celtic Sea came by its name ; we have the results of our Seascapes competition and the winners of those copies of “ Shackleton’s South” as retold by John MacKenna in a Real Reads edition ; first this week to the recent Swim Ireland event at Coosan Point in Athlone ––Ron Coveney and Laura Hannon went along for Seascapes .......... let’s hear first from Mary McMorrow, Operations Manager of Swim Ireland as the National 5 and 10k Championships and Swim for A Mile all part of Waterfest began at the start line..........

Mary McMorrow, Operations Manager, Swim Ireland we can hear next from Marathon Swimmer Steven Miller...

Next to Charlie Lawn at Waterfest, Charlie is Inspector of Navigation with Waterways Ireland...

From Charlie Lawn to some of the winners of the National 5K Championship as Laura Hannon and Ron Coveney greeted them at the finish line at Coosan Point in Athlone....they talked to Adrian Cosgrove of Ennis ; Jordan Sexton of St Fiaccs the National 5K Champion but first to Amy Wolfe of Sandycove Island who was 1st across the line in the Senior Female (wetsuit) in the National 5K Championships..
A final word from Waterfest in Athlone with Kevin Clabby who is Chairman of Inland Waterways Association of Ireland.

The Athlone River Festival and Food Village takes place in the Shannonside town from the Friday 9th of September to Sunday 11th more details on the Waterways Ireland webpage and on the Seascapes webpage....
With all the coverage of the remarkable feat in the lightweight double sculls by the O'Donovan brothers Gary and Paul and the jubilation felt by all involved in Irish rowing circles throughout this island I was drawn to a piece by Alex Clark who wrote in last weekend’s Observer........

“ They do things differently in Skibbereen, as Gary and Paul O Donovan, Ireland’s first –ever rowing medal winners, demonstrated in their post-victory interviews. “

“The lightweight double scullers thrilled as they might have been, were not about to go overboard; rather they explained in Cork’s distinctive sing-song accent they had “done some Nutella, done the podium thing and peed in a cup”
“Back home, the duo rather wistfully explained on Irish (national) broadcaster Raidio Telefis Eireann, “its mad excitement altogether “and Skibbereen was “after closing everything down and having a national holiday and we’re missing it all.” Clark writes “Don’t worry lads: the ‘craic’ will still be ninety when you get home.”

In sailing, Annalise Murphy secured her silver medal after almost a decade of constant training and perseverance and her victory was celebrated in Dun Laoghaire and at her home sailing club The National Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire , she is now hotly tipped to take on the Moth for Tokyo in four years time. Congratulations also go to the entire Irish sailing squad

Finn Lynch (20) from Carlow and also a National YC sailor was the youngest ever Olympic helm to represent Ireland as well as being the youngest in his 46-strong class. He achieved several notable performances during his ten-race series at Rio including several top 20 results. In an event where the average age of the top ten finishers is 30, he has proven his ability with an Olympic experience under his belt and is certain to be a prospect for Tokyo 2020.
Andrea Brewster and Saskia Tidey from the Royal Irish YC started their campaign together exactly three years ago and sailed the 49erFX class for the new Women’s Skiff event at Rio. Overcoming a three-month injury hiatus to their campaign, they qualified Ireland for the event earlier this year and their form improved steadily in the build-up to the Olympics. Over their 12 race series, they achieved five top ten results and ended their debut Olympic Games in 12th place overall.
Ryan Seaton and Matt McGovern, from Carrickfergus Sailing Club, Ballyholme YC & Royal Ulster YC were the last of the six Irish sailors into action on Guanabara Bay in the Men’s Skiff event Medal Race final. The London 2012 veterans improved on their performance from four years ago by qualifying for the final to place tenth overall. Their results included two race wins in which they beat the four times world champions and eventual Gold medal winners. This ensured they were within reach of the podium going in to the last day of fleet racing.

“This result proves that our strategy in high performance is working and is providing the success that all involved in sailing and sport crave,” commented David Lovegrove, President of the Irish Sailing Association. “I want to acknowledge the tremendous professionalism of our coaching staff who have demonstrated such passion and commitment to our sailors. In particular I want to commend James O’Callaghan’s leadership and guidance of high performance sailing, ably supported by Rory Fitzpatrick.”

“Annalise’s medal confirms the intent of our programme that both delivers the highest standard of performance but also makes a return to our domestic sport,” said James O’Callaghan, ISA Performance Director.
We wish all our Paralympians well in Rio particularly our Paralymic Sailing Team of John Twomey , Ian Costelloe and Austin O Carroll , this is Johns ‘ 11th consecutive games...fair winds...

As the clock counts down to the America’s Cup proper next year, the pressure is building week by week. Pressure for Sir Ben Ainslie’s team, Land Rover Ben Ainslie Racing ; also for the Defenders Oracle Team USA and indeed for all six teams as they fight for the bonus points that could increase their chances next year when the road to the America’s Cup kicks off.

Next to our recent Seascapes competition you may remember that we asked you to name the last vessel on which Sir Ernest Shackleton sailed before his untimely passing the answer as many of you correctly guessed was The Quest, so copies of “Shackletons South “ as retold by John MacKenna are going out to ...

*Kevin O'Halloran, Youghal, Co. Cork

*Marcelline Cody Roscrea Co Tipperary

*Tony O'Connor Malahide, Co. Dublin

A new statue is unveiled in Athy to Sir Ernest Shackleton this coming week and we’ll be there.......

Well from the World of exploration to our coastal waters and the Celtic Sea...........broadcaster and writer Hugh Oram on the how this body of water got its name.........
Hugh Oram and the origins of The Celtic Sea, Hugh’s latest book is a pictorial history of Sandymount, published by The History Press Ireland ...

“ On the sound desk this week Niall O’ Sullivan, next week here on your maritime programme Grainne McPolin heads for Fenit and Tralee Bay for Seascapes and profiles the crane company Liebherr who came to Tralee in 1958 and how the company has expanded , their shipping movements through Fenit and Tralee Bay ..........we’ll meet the Chief Executive Officer of Liebherr , Pat O ‘Leary ; retiree Max McCarthy ; Port Manager - Don O’ Herlihy ; Commodore and Vice Commodore of Tralee Bay Sailing Club Fiona Frawley and Gary Forte and Harbour Master - Batt McCarthy......and we’ll be at the unveiling of that new statue to Sir Ernest Shackleton in Athy .........until next Friday tight lines and fair sailing.”

Waterways Ireland will reopen the Shannon Navigation through Limerick on the 11th August following remedial work. The unprecedented decision to close the navigation between Parteen Weir and Sarsfield Lock was taken in March 2016 following safety inspections of the critical navigational infrastructure.

The infrastructural damage was caused by record flood levels and the prolonged duration of these floods during last winter. The floating breakwater at the entrance to the Abbey River in Limerick was no longer in place to protect vessels from striking the fixed weir. The floating pontoons upstream of the railways bridge were also damaged and were not suitable for mooring to or walking on.

The works to remediate the deficiencies included the recovery of the breakwater and the reinstallation of the breakwater arrest system. The Railway Bridge jetty also required repair. Following completion of the flood damage work, operational maintenance to the sluice and lock-gates of Sarsfield Lock was also required and is now complete.

Sarsfield Lock will be open Mondays and Thursdays for the rest of the season at the times published in the Marine Notice on www.waterwaysireland.org. These have been established to meet the tide timetable and the operation of Ardnacrusha.

Waterways Ireland recognises the inconvenience the closure has caused users of the navigation and apologies for any difficulties experienced.

For further information please contact the Inspector of Navigation Tel: 353 (0)90 6494232.