Waterways Ireland in conjunction with a working committee will mark the completion of the main line of the Royal Canal on the inland waterways with an event that will take place in Richmond Harbour, Clondra, Co. Longford on the 1st October as part of a weekend of festivities. This event is the culmination of not only 36 years of campaigning by the Royal Canal Amenity Group (RCAG) but a summer of waterside events moving East to West; boaters and waterside communities have been celebrating the reawakening of the Royal Canal each weekend leading up to the main event.

The formal event will take place on October 1st at 2pm, with a flotilla of boats arriving into Richmond Harbour. The flotilla will include boats from each branch of the RCAG as well as the Heritage Boat Association, Inland Waterways Association of Ireland, the supporters of the Canal d'Nivernais, representatives of the Wilderness Boats. The flotilla will be lead by Royal Canal Barge no 3 (also known as the Killucan Barge). The formal event will be followed by a weekend of celebrations organised by the Clondra Branch of the RCAG and supported by Waterways Ireland. The weekend festivities are open to all.

The Royal Canal is a highly significant and historic public amenity. 145.6km long, the Royal Canal stretches from Dublin to the Shannon passing through Dublin, Kildare, Meath, Westmeath and Longford. 1.2 million people live within this catchment making the Royal Canal one of the largest public amenities on the island.