Waterways Ireland advises all masters and users of the Erne System in Northern Ireland that the channel east of Castle Island in Enniskillen will be closed from this Wednesday 7 June to 30 September 2023.

This is for the creation of a water activity zone in the area, similar to that created last year. The designated area will be clearly marked by floating buoys.

Access to Castle Museum Jetty will be maintained when approaching from the north of Castle Island.

Mariners should use the navigation channel to the west of Castle Island and proceed at slow speed with minimum wash, adhering to any instructions or displayed signage.

Mariners should also be aware of small non-motorised craft also operating in the navigation, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways adds.

Waterways Ireland wishes to advise users of the Grand Canal in Dublin city centre that the north-bank towpath between Locks C3 and C4, at Huband Bridge and Wilton Terrace respectively, will be closed for approximately two weeks for maintenance works beginning this Tuesday 6 June.

Waterways Ireland advises all masters of vessels and waterways users on the Shannon Navigation that temporary markers have been installed at Port, around 1km downstream of Leitrim village, to avoid a navigation restriction in the area.

Waterways Ireland advises all masters of vessels and waterways users on the Shannon Navigation that the timber jetty at Drummans Island on Lough Key will be closed for eight weeks from Friday 2 June for planned maintenance works.

Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels and waterways users on the Erne System in Northern Ireland that Crom jetty on Upper Lough Erne has been reopened as of Friday 2 June after repair works.

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, the jetty had been closed last week due to fire damage being sustained at the facility, while a vessel was also sunken adjacent to the jetty.

Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels and waterways users that the 2023 Erne Boat Rally is taking place from Saturday 3 to Monday 5 June.

In order to facilitate the event, the following jetties will be closed:

• Round ‘O’ Jetty, outside moorings on the upstream side of the access walkway – Saturday 3 June from noon to 5pm
• Rossigh Jetty – Sunday 4 June from 2pm to 5pm

In addition to the above jetty closures, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways ask all mariners to be aware of additional boating traffic on the Erne System for the duration of the rally.

Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels on the Shannon Navigation that the in-river works for the construction of the Killaloe Bypass bridge are progressing as planned.

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, the bridge is being constructed around 1km downstream of the current Killaloe–Ballina bridge.

Three bridge piers will be constructed in the navigation by December. The first 10 piles have now been installed on the east side of the river, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways confirms.

A buoyed navigation channel is being provided for 100 metres either side of the in river works. The barges and piling rig will be operating on the west side of the river from Thursday 1 June.

Masters of vessels are requested to proceed at slow speed (5 knots, no wash) with additional caution in the vicinity of the works and to follow the instructions of the safety boat crew as there are hazards such as mooring lines to navigate.

Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels and waterways users on the Erne System in Northern Ireland that Crom jetty on Upper Lough Erne is closed until further notice. This is due to fire damage being sustained at the jetty, while a vessel is also sunken adjacent to the jetty.

Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels and waterways users on the Royal Canal that the following canoe polo events will take place in Mullingar Harbour during the summer months of 2023:

• Junior Canoe Polo Competition - Sunday 21 May
• National Club Championships – 8-9 July
• Overload Canoe Polo Camp – 25-27 August

Masters of vessels are requested to moor outside the harbour area on these dates in order to facilitate the canoe polo events, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways adds.

Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels and users of the Shannon Navigation that the Great River Swim will take place between Tarmonbarry and Ballyleague next Saturday 20 May.

As many as 800 swimmers as expected to participate in the swim event, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways adds.

The Shannon Navigation between Tarmonbarry Lock and Ballyleague bridge will be closed from 9am to 2pm on the day.

Tarmonbarry Lock and Clondara canal lock will also be closed for the same time period, while vessels will be prohibited from proceeding upstream from Ballyleague Bridge during this same time.

A series of large bright green and red buoys — branded with Gaelforce — will be positioned along the swim route on the evening of Friday 19 May and will removed after the swim on Saturday.