Waterways Ireland Inspector of Navigation Paddy Harkin is advising all Masters of vessels and water users of the Shannon Navigation, Shannon-Erne Waterway, Royal Canal, Grand Canal, Barrow Line and Navigation that the following access to navigations and availability of services will be in force from 31 Dec 2020 until further notice:

Navigations are open up to 5 kilometres from your home (ROI only), provided you continue to observe social distancing at all times.

• All locks on above named navigations are closed.
• All Waterways Ireland service blocks are closed.
• The Winter Mooring period is in force on the Shannon Navigation and Shannon Erne Waterway.
• Stay safe and stay at home in order to protect our health services and save lives.

Canal Towpaths

Our towpaths remain open and accessible for local exercise. We request users of our canal towpaths to limit their use and only use towpaths which are in close vicinity (5km in ROI) of your home. Our request to everyone using our towpaths is:

• Observe social distancing protocols - keep a distance of at least 2m (6 feet) away from other people;
• Use the towpaths for brief physical exercise only;
• Limit use – do not take part in physical activity on towpaths which have the potential for large numbers, where social distancing cannot be observed comfortably;
• Don't meet up with other groups;
• Stay in your family household group;
• Stay local to your home (5km ROI only);
• As towpaths in some places can be narrow, when you pass someone, please make sure you use the full width of the towpath, keep moving, and stand aside to allow others to pass, in single file, when necessary;
• If you can't avoid passing a moored boat please keep as far away from it as possible and pass quickly by;
• Be mindful of others and act always with consideration and with respect and observe the leave no trace principles and protect our environment;
• Observe all health etiquettes when on the towpaths.

We will continually review such measures in light of direction and advice from Government and health professionals and any decisions on service provision will be communicated via the issuance of Marine Notices.

While our staff are working from home, they are available by phone during normal working hours. Should you need our assistance please do contact us by email at [email protected] or by phone https://www.waterwaysireland.org/contact-us.

Continual Updates

Continual updates are provided by both the HSE in Ireland and the Public Health Agency in Northern Ireland regarding the COVID-19 virus. If you would like to access the latest information about the virus, you are advised to refer to the HSE coronavirus page (Ireland) or the PHA website www.publichealth.hscni.net. (Northern Ireland).

We ask all our stakeholders, families and colleagues to continue to be safe during the crisis and Stay at home.

Waterways Ireland thanks all vessel owners and operators for their co-operation in relation to this matter.

Waterways Ireland advises masters and owners of vessels that all 16 locks on the Shannon-Erne Waterway will be out of service from this Thursday 24 December to Sunday 3 January inclusive.

No lock passage by boat will be possible on the inland waterway during this period. Normal service will resume at 9am on Monday 4 January.

Land- and water-based trails will remain open during this period, as will service blocks at Ballyconnell, Ballinamore, Keshcarrigan and Leitrim.

But the service blocks at Aghalane and Haughton’s Shore are closed and are not scheduled to reopen until Sunday 14 March.

Waterways Ireland has announced the launch of its 2021 Community Heritage Grants Scheme in support of the Waterways Ireland Heritage Plan.

A fund of €20,000 has been allocated to assist community-based heritage projects which compliment or fulfil the delivery of the 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).

Grants of up to €1,500/£1,350 are available, and applications will be considered from communities, individuals and organisations seeking assistance for projects related to inland waterways heritage.

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

The deadline for receipt of completed applications is Sunday 31 January 2021. For more information, see the Guidance document attached below with the application form.

Waterways Ireland is notifying all masters of vessels that diving operations will take place at Carrick-on-Shannon on Friday 18 December.

The locations of the diving operations are 1 along the quay wall some 30 metres downstream and upstream of the bridge, and along the quay wall near the boat club.

Masters of vessels and all inland waterways users are requested to proceed with additional caution in the vicinity of the diving operations.

Waterways Ireland advises users of the Royal Canal in Dublin that there will be no boat passages possible on the inland waterway at the 12th Lock in Castleknock from Monday 7 December until the end of January due to works to replace a breast gate at the lock.

Waterways Ireland advises masters of all craft that the public mooring jetty and slipway at Bellanaleck in Co Fermanagh will be closed from this Monday 30 November until the end of March next year.

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, this closure is to facilitate the construction of a new 16-berth public mooring and slipway at the site on the River Erne south of Enniskillen.

Masters are requested to navigate the inland waterway with care around these works over the coming months, and heed instructions from safety stewards in the vicinity.

Waterways Ireland advises users of the Royal Canal between Leixlip and Maynooth in Co Kildare that there will be no boat passages permitted from next Monday 23 November until the end of January 2021 due to deep gate replacement and associated works on Lock 13 at Deey Bridge.

A working group has been established to develop a proposal for a Shannon Greenway connecting the city of Limerick with Lough Derg.

Waterways Ireland says it is working together with Clare County Council, Limerick City & County Council and others on the plans, which are still at an early concept stage.

However, it is understood that the working group has already been charged with examining possible route options and designs, as well as environmental considerations, costs and funding sources.

Also being considered is whether public lands between Limerick and Tuamgraney/Scarriff in Co Clare — especially the towpaths of the Park and Erinagh Canals and various ESB embankments — could be used for the project.

Waterways Ireland says it is undertaking a “significant programme” of maintenance works on inland waterways in Northern Ireland over the winter period.

On the Lower Bann, which connects Lough Neagh to the sea north of Coleraine, works will focus on maintaining safe access to and navigability of the river channel.

Dredging has already been completed downstream of the Cutts Lock in Coleraine, with more than 1,000 cubic metres of material removed.

A similar dredging programme is taking place this month in Movanagher to remove 200 cubic metres of material, while the mouth of Toome Canal will be dredged in early 2021.

Dredging of river-deposited material ensures the locks gates can operate and the channel remains clear enough for boats to pass, Waterways Ireland says.

Elsewhere, new upstream lock gates will be installed at the Carnroe lock, which last had its gates replaced more than 50 years ago.

Next year, Waterways Ireland will begin work on a two-year project to repair the weir at Carnoe and install a fish pass after planning permission was granted.

Winter is also when the Waterways Ireland team undertakes the removal of fallen trees and trims bank foliage along the navigation. This work will take place from Carnoe to the Cutts and at Toome.

The Toome Canal Walk, which Waterways Ireland says has seen a significant increase in users this year, will also be resurfaced.

Regional manager Joe Gillespie said: “These maintenance works are essential to maintain the heritage assets of the Lower Bann and ensure they are accessible to the widest range of users.”

Bellanaleck in Co Fermanagh on the River Erne | Photo: Waterways Ireland

Meanwhile, this month Waterways Ireland will also commence an extensive works programme to improve Bellanaleck Quay on the River Erne.

The works, planned to be completed in time for the new boating season next March, are being undertaken to improve access and increase year-round mooring capacity near Bellanaleck village in Co Fermanagh.

Waterways Ireland’s design team will work with contractors on a plan to widen the existing slipway and construct a new quay wall with one fixed mooring as well as a 16-berth floating mooring.

“Waterways Ireland continues to invest in increasing access to Lough Erne for recreational and tourism activity,” says director of technical services Joe McMahon.

“Bellanaleck is a key lakeside location with a range of services which visitors enjoy and improved access will increase the duration and spend of visitors in the local area.”

Waterways Ireland reminds masters on the Shannon Navigation and Shannon-Erne Waterway that the winter mooring period for public harbours will commence this Sunday 1 November and continue until 31 March 2021.

Masters wishing to avail of winter mooring on these inland waterways are required to pay the €63.50 fee online before this Sunday. Registration is available at the Waterways Ireland website HERE.

To register, for winter mooring, go by the following steps:

1. Apply for mooring at a specific harbour
2. Receive email approval/rejection/alternative location of application
3. Follow link on approval email when received to pay winter mooring fee online

Masters are reminded that Bye-law 17 — the ‘five consecutive days/seven days in one month rule’ — will continue to apply for masters not availing of winter mooring when the Covid-19 Level 5 restrictions are eased.

Waterways Ireland will be disconnecting its electricity supply points and water supply at public moorings for the winter period. Both services will be reinstated prior to the 2021 boating season.

Owners are urged to note that vessels berthed in public harbours are at the owners’ risk at all times and may be directed to other harbours as required by Waterways Ireland.