#sailing raid – A gathering of international sailors set off for the start of the first Lakelands & Inland Waterways Ireland Sailing Raid on Friday (14 Sept). The skipper list for the seven-day event on the Shannon River includes a former Olympian, a transatlantic record breaker, a Whitbread sailor, and a former world windsurf champion.

Two local classes, the Shannon One-Design and the Water Wags, joined a mixed fleet of boats in the Open Class to race the 195km course. In a spirit of cross-border cooperation, the first two days of the event took place in Northern Ireland, before the boats crossed the border into the Republic of Ireland and resumed racing down the Shannon River.

Early indications were that the local classes were proving very competitive against the Open Class - which includes everything from a 75-year-old Solent centreboarder to a brand new Wayfarer. Local knowledge plays an important part in the tricky inland conditions, where sudden downdraughts and wind shadows are a regular occurrence.

Crews are required to navigate the waterways themselves using the usual channel markers, and race buoys are only used at the start and finish of each leg.

Crews from seven countries are taking part in the raid: Ireland, UK, Germany, Sweden, Japan, France and the Netherlands. Notable personalities include: Albert Schiess (Swiss Olympic sailor), Jochen Krauth (German/French windsurf world champion), Koji Ikeda (Japanese Tornado champion), Patrick Morvan (transatlantic record-breaker), Sylvie Viant (Whitbread sailor), and Martine Gahinet-Charrier (transatlantic racer).

#loughkey – Jimmy Deenihan TD, Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht officially opened the Lough Key Waterside Development on Thursday 6th September 2012. This new mooring and services facility at Lough Key Forest Park enhances the North Shannon as a major boating and tourism destination and maximises the full tourism and recreational potential of the park and the waterway.

The new development of floating jetties and marina accommodates 50 boats with low level access ramps provided for canoes and small boats. The service block of toilets and showers, pumpout and electricity bollards, meets international standards and is superb facility to be able to offer to the public. There is an 80 metre floating breakwater provided to protect the marina which can be expanded to 100m in winter.

Minister Deenihan said "This new waterside development at Lough Key Forest will certainly ensure that the long tradition of visitors to the lake and parklands will continue well into the future. Lough Key has for many centuries drawn people to its spectacular views, abundant wildlife, historic buildings and evocative islands. This beautiful landscape is steeped in a rich history.

I am also particularly pleased that all the various state agencies responsible for tourism and product development have come together to develop and market the waterways as a single entity. It allows greater and wider access for the waterways and their products to the various tourism markets. And as we know, tourism is a key element to the economic recovery of our country."

The Minister for Culture, Arts and Leisure in the north, Carál Ní Chuilín said:

"This is a superb facility which will give a great boost to this region as a boating and tourist destination, and which exemplifies the benefits of all-Ireland development. Infrastructural expansion on an all-Ireland basis is good for the whole island, particularly in building sustainable economic opportunities. DCAL, on behalf of the north's Executive, will continue to promote positive all-Ireland development and support the important work of agencies like Waterways Ireland."

In combination with other mooring facilities provided by Waterways Ireland throughout Lough Key, particularly at Boyle Harbour and 21 other areas throughout the lake this new facility will more than double the facilities and create the potential to attract large boat shows, festival events and water based activities to the area: Lough Key will become a truly international hub for tourism, recreation and business as seen by the recent Camp 101 with 10,000 Girl Guides from all over the world based here in July for over a week of activity.

Mr John Martin, Chief Executive, Waterways Ireland "Waterways Ireland is delighted to be able to provide this hugely expanded base for locals and tourists to engage in a range of soft adventure and leisure pursuits, including angling, boating/cruising, walking, and cycling. This will suit the 6500+ boats which visit Lough Key each year through Clarendon Lock and this number is expected to rise now that the facility is fully online"

Waterways Ireland designed and managed the project in partnership with

Roscommon County Council, and Moylurg Rockingham Ltd with funding from

Fáilte Ireland, Waterways Ireland and Roscommon Co Co. totalling €875,000.

Gordon Gaffney, Investment Manager at Fáilte Ireland said:

"While value for money and a high quality customer experience are an important part of selling Ireland as a destination both at home and abroad, ensuring our regions are fully equipped to cater for visitors is equally a crucial aspect to developing tourism in Ireland. Through our capital investment programme, we have provided over half a million Euro towards this project and the development is a welcome new addition to the facilities at Lough Key."

One of the challenges for Waterways Ireland is to unlock and build on the recreational, social and economic benefits which reintegration of the inland navigable waterways in Ireland holds. This project is an example of how partnership, building on existing infrastructure and taking advantage of the beauty of the natural environment can provide the necessary platform to expand

the tourism potential of the area.

The development at Lough Key is yet another demonstration of the partnership approach of the Lakelands and Inland Waterways Initiative between Fáilte Ireland, Waterways Ireland and other agencies. The Initiative has over the past four years placed Ireland's Inland Waterways at the centre of the tourism offering both at home and abroad. The Initiative has 3 pillars, i.e., Destination Development, Product Development and a Marketing Programme. The Lakeland and Inland Waterways Initiative brings many benefits to Waterways Ireland and the waterways. Economies of scale through the pooling of resources and the elimination of duplication of initiatives are also of major benefit.

#sailraid – Not since the Vikings has a group of boats set off sailing southwards with such a challenge!

Over 20 sail boats with crews from Japan, France, Sweden England and Ireland will participate in the Lakelands & Inland Waterways International Sail Raid 2012 taking place from 14th to 21st September 2012 from Lough Erne to Killaloe Co. Clare. The crews will sail their boats the distance in 7 days in a series of race stages. An immense challenge but a fun and exciting initiative, this is the first time it has been undertaken in Ireland or Northern Ireland.

A fun, competitive sailing event for teams of 2-3 people, using Shannon One Designs, Waterwags, and an Open Class of boats including Drabscombes, the international teams will be welcomed at Lough Erne Yacht Club for the opening night and briefing before the journey begins. Domestic sailors are also welcome to participate.

Organised by Albacore/Dacmar events "Lakelands & Inland Waterways International Sail Raid 2012" will be run in close cooperation with the Lough Erne, Lough Ree and Lough Derg Yacht Clubs and with the assistance of the Dublin National Yacht Club.

Raid General Manager Jymmy Viant stated "the Lakelands & Inland Waterways International Sailing Raid 2012 is a long distance race with one or two legs every day and a different stopover every night. The "Lakelands & Inland Waterways International Sail Raid" will, to our knowledge, be the first raid run with traditional Irish Sailing Boats, among the oldest classes in the world. We expect international teams to relish this amazing opportunity to explore Ireland's inland waterways in such unique boats".

Eanna Rowe Waterways Ireland, Head of Marketing & Communications and Co-Chair of Lakelands & Inland Waterways stated "The Lakelands & Inland Waterways International Sail Raid is a superb opportunity to bring the awareness of an international audience to Ireland's inland waterways. There is a real opportunity for regular raid enthusiasts from all over the world and for sailors from all over Ireland to join in this unique experience."

Lakelands & Inland Waterways is a tourism product development & marketing initiative of Waterways Ireland, Fáilte Ireland, Shannon Development, Fermanagh Lakeland Tourism and Tourism Ireland.

#RIVER TEA CRUISES – River Cruises based in New Ross, Co. Wexford, are offering a new tour for 2012, with their 'Tea & Tapestry' Tour taking in the tranquil river setting, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The tours (3pm) cater for groups of 15 people (minimum) from the inland port. After the cruise, on board the galley barge St. Ciaran (built 1936) returns to New Ross, the second part of the tour is a visit to the nearby Ros Tapestry Exhibition Centre - 'a tale told through thread'.

For further information about this tour visit: www.rivercruises.ie/dailyupdates/and for Lunch (12.30pm) and Dinner Cruises (6pm) details click HERE. For information about the Ros Tapestry visit: www.rostapestry.com

#INLAND WATERWAYS - Fisheries environmental officers at Inland Fisheries Ireland received reports of a fish kill in the Kiltha River in Castlemartyr, Co Cork from anglers late on Saturday 11 August last.

The investigation which initiated early the following morning revealed that many thousands of brown trout fry, parr and adults, salmon fry and parr, brook lamprey, stickleback and stone loach were killed.

The fish kill affected a 5.5km section of the Kiltha River from Mogeely downstream to its confluence with the Dower River.

The Kiltha River is an important salmonid spawning and nursery tributary of the Womanagh River which flows east into the sea at Youghal Harbour. This fish kill is particularly disappointing as the Womanagh River, which is currently closed to salmon angling, had been responding well to management and has seen its fish populations increase over the past several years.

The effects of the pollutant which entered the river were quick-acting, indicating that the pollutant was of a toxic nature.

Inland Fisheries Ireland is awaiting test results of water samples to determine the nature of the pollutant. While this analysis is taking place IFI’s investigation into the cause of the kill is continuing with several potential sources being examined.

The news comes just weeks after reports of fish mortalities along a 9km stretch of the River Vartry in Co Wicklow.

Members of the public are reminded that Inland Fisheries Ireland operates a confidential 24 hour hotline and suspected illegal fishing or pollution can be reported to 1890 347 424 or for easier recall 1890 FISH 24.

#RIVER FESTIVAL – The inland port of New Ross,Co. Wexford, is to where the Celtic River Festival is to take place over next weekend (25-26 Aug).

The festival has an action packed programme to entertain with plenty of fun-filled activities for all to enjoy. The events are a cruiser treasure hunt, Viking longboat trips, cot-racing, music sessions, Viking camp and medieval fair, a kids workshop and sea scout camp and archery.

For further details visit their facebook page by clicking HERE

#TALL SHIPS - Waterways Ireland has announced a series of events around Grand Canal Dock in support of the Tall Ships Races Festival.

The events will be centred around the Waterways Ireland Visitor Centre on Grand Canal Quay, with a full programme of children’s art and craft workshops and two exhibitions running throughout the festival. The programme includes:

'A Very Grand Canal' Art Exhibition

A Very Grand Canal is a collection of artistic responses to the Grand Canal commissioned by Offaly County Council through the Per Cent for Art scheme. Three projects were chosen, some with multiple outcomes, all illuminating the Grand Canal in ways not seen, heard or read before. The artists include, Geraldine O’Reilly (printmaker), La Cosa Preziosa (sound artist), Martina McGlynn and Garret Daly (Filmmakers), Eugene O’Brien (writer) Veronica Nicholson (photographer) and Wayne Brennan (musician). The exhibition runs throughout the Tall Ships festival from 10am to 6pm daily.

Small Ships at the Tall Ships

Small Ships at the Tall Ships is an exhibition of work by the Irish Model Boat Club, featuring small tall ships, RNLI lifeboats and a 16ft model of the Titanic. There will also be a demonstration of radio controlled model boats, and a model boat building workshop for children 7 and up (call 01 677 7510 to book; places are limited). The exhibition is open daily throughout the festival.

Waterways Ireland Community Choir  

The Waterways Ireland Community Choir’s members are local people from the Docklands and along the canals coming together to sing songs of the rivers, canals and docks. Their performance on the jetty of the Waterways Ireland Visitor Centre at 4pm on Saturday 25 August will feature a wide repertoire of songs including Simon & Garfunkel’s 'Bridge Over Troubled Water' and the more light-hearted traditional song 'Drunken Sailor'.

'Decorate Your Duck' Workshop  

Who will have the best looking duck in the Duck Race? The Decorate Your Duck workshop runs in the Waterways Ireland Visitor Centre on Saturday and Sunday from 11am to 3pm. There will be glitter and glue, paint and polish, so come on down and give your duck some character! The Duck Race is run in aid of St Andrews Resource Centre, Pearse Street.

'Watery Stories' with Púca Puppets  

Niamh from Púca Puppets invites the young (and young at heart) to meet 'canalmaid' Mary Mary, who will pull ashore at the Waterways Ireland Visitors Centre for the Dublin Tall Ships Festival and is looking for help in finding clues, creating and drawing stories to illustrate life on and in Ireland's canals and inland waterways. Suitable for 6-10 year olds and their families, Watery Stories takes place on Friday 24, Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 August at 11am and 2pm. Booking is advisable as places are limited - phone 01 677 7510.

#INLAND WATERWAYS - Waterways Ireland has applied for planning permission to build a new houseboat mooring facility on the Grand Canal at Sallins in Co Kildare.

The planned 210-metre fixed timer mooring is expected to cater for 12 boats with electric and water service supply bollards as well as a sewage pumpout.

There will also be 45 metres of short-term mooring space, a 12-space car park and disabled access to the facility.

Submissions on the planning application will be accepted by Kildare County Council till 11 September 2012. Details are available via the council's online planning system (application number 12645).

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, Waterways Ireland launched a scheme earlier this year for renting houseboat berths at the western end of the Grand Canal at Shannon Harbour.

#PEG PEOPLE - This weekend's (18-19 August) children's arts and craft morning workshop is as usual been held in the Waterways Visitor Centre located in Dublin's Grand Canal Dock. Noting the centre has also organised other events and activities as part of National Heritage Week and with the Tallships (23-26 August) coming to town!

The theme of the creative morning is 'Peg People-Create Your Own Character With Textiles and a Wooden Peg! The activity is part of an on-going Children's Summer Workshop Programme, held every weekend until late August. On each of the weekends (both mornings), the theme of the art & craft workshop will change.

Art & craft workshops are to cater for two age groups with the first workshop (5-7 year olds) starts at 11:00 and the second session for those (aged 8-10) begins at 12 noon.

Admission is €3.00 per child, all children must be accompanied by an adult. Places are limited so booking is advisable. For further details contact: (01) 6777510, Wed-Sun 10.00am- 6.00pm and by visiting www.waterwaysirelandvisitorcentre.org/events.aspx

#ANGLING - Entries close next Friday 17 August for the Lakelands & Inland Waterways World Pairs Angling Championship, taking place from 10-14 September in Monaghan, Leitrim, Cavan and Fermanagh.

Described at the world's richest coarse angling competition by the Leitrim Observer, entries have so far being received from throughout Europe and as far afield as Brazil and Australia, all aiming for a share of the £60,000 (€76,500) prize fund.

The 150-pair limit is close to being reached, but organisers are establishing a reserve list to ensure all spots are filled for the biggest contest of its kind in Ireland.

Organisers are calling it "a match run by anglers for anglers" - all competitors have to do is catch as many bream and roach as they can, and all methods can be fished.

Test fishing has already been hosted on inland waterways throughout the four counties that comprise the cross-border Lakekands & Inland Waterways region, based on the Erne system, the Shannon-Erne Waterway and the main Shannon navigation, to find the best five spots for world-class wild angling.

The event is sponsored by Lakeland & Inland Waterways, a marketing and product development initiative of Waterways Ireland, Fáilte Ireland, Tourism Ireland, Fermanagh Tourism, the Northern Ireland Tourist Board and Shannon Development.