Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels and waterway users on the Royal Canal that the lifting bridge at The Downs in Co Westmeath will be closed for canal traffic effective immediately.

This closure is to facilitate emergency repairs due to vandalism. The cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways says the bridge will return to normal operations on Thursday 12 October.

Waterways Ireland wishes to advises all masters of vessels on and users of the Royal Canal that a canoe polo event will be taking place in Kilcock Harbour this Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 September.

In order to facilitate the event, navigation in this area will be very restricted from 3pm on Friday 15 September to 7pm on Sunday 17 September.

Vessels should move away from any of the moorings in the harbour area for the duration of the event, and will only be able to navigate past the event if allowed to proceed by the event organisers between event activities through a prior arrangement.

Masters of vessels are therefore requested to proceed with additional caution in the vicinity of the event and to obey any instructions given by event stewards, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways adds.

This story was updated on Friday 15 September to reflect the updated dates of the canoe polo event.

Waterways Ireland wishes to advises all masters of vessels on and users of the Royal Canal that a canoe polo event will be taking place in Kilcock Harbour this Sunday 18 June.

In order to facilitate the event, navigation in this area will be very restricted from 3pm on Saturday 17 June to 7pm on Sunday 18 June.

Vessels should move away from any of the moorings in the harbour area for the duration of the event, and will only be able to navigate past the event if allowed to proceed by the event organisers between event activities through a prior arrangement.

Masters of vessels are therefore requested to proceed with additional caution in the vicinity of the event and to obey any instructions given by event stewards, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways adds.

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 craft wishing to make passage on the Royal Canal in Dublin that a navigation restriction is to be applied to use of the 10th Lock in Ashtown for boat passage.

The maximum beam of craft that will be permitted to pass through this lock will now be restricted to 3.5 metres, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways says.

This restriction is necessary due to structural checks recently undertaken on the lock, which identified a need for limiting the size of craft that could pass through the lock, it adds.

Waterways Ireland reminds all masters and owners of vessels on the Grand Canal, Royal Canal, Barrow Line and Barrow Navigation that all canal permits expired on 1 November 2022 and must be renewed for 2023.

Permits can be renewed online at the Waterways Ireland website HERE.

The cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways emphasises that vessels with no permit, as required by Bye Law 6(8) of the Canals Act, will be “removed as operationally convenient”.

This year, Waterways Ireland’s partnership with the St Patrick’s Festival will celebrate the beloved Dublin canals as one of 10 showpiece performances in the capital’s St Patrick’s Day Parade on Friday 17 March.

With half a million spectators expected to line this year’s route, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways says it’s proud to showcase and celebrate the history, heritage and recreational vibrancy of the Dublin canals as integral parts of Ireland’s culture.

As the parade passes by look out for ‘Uiscebhéal’, a performance inspired by the values of sustainability and community that will highlight the role of the Grand Canal and Royal Canal in the life of the city.

John McDonagh, Waterways Ireland chief executive said: “Our treasured historic canals are familiar welcoming places for generations, spaces for recreation, inspiration for artists and a sanctuary where nature can survive and thrive.

“It is a pleasure to have worked with the St Patrick’s Festival team to recognise the significance of the Royal and Grand canals in Dublin through this wonderful performance.”

Richard Tierney, St Patrick’s Festival CEO added: “Our partnership with Waterways Ireland celebrates some of the most intrinsic and loved parts of Dublin and Ireland, we are thrilled to shine a light on the usage of the canals and the many ways we can all enjoy these great amenities.”

The St Patrick’s Festival takes place in Dublin and nationwide from Thursday 16 to Sunday 19 March.

Construction has started on Phase 3 of the Royal Canal Greenway, which runs from Dublin’s North Strand to Phibsborough.

Phase 3 of the project will come in at a cost of just under €31 million and will provide 2.1km of pedestrian and cycle track along the banks of the Royal Canal, extending from Newcomen Bridge at the North Strand Road to Crossguns Bridge in Phibsborough.

Upon completion, which is expected in the second quarter of 2025, there will be a continuous 3.2km cycling and walking route through the north city from Phibsborough to the River Liffey.

It will include accessible ramps from the canal towpath to all road crossings, a new pedestrian and cycle bridge across the Royal Canal and a new community plaza.

The route will also form part of the Dublin to Galway Greenway, which was first announced in 2012 by then-Transport Minister Leo Varadkar and was due to be completed in 2020.

The Phase 3 works to the Royal Canal Greenway were approved in 2015 but the tender was not issued until April of last year. The project is a collaboration between Dublin City Council, Waterways Ireland and Irish Rail.

In addition to cycling and walking network upgrades, the project — in partnership with ESB Networks — will also facilitate future electricity network upgrades.

On Friday (17 February) Dublin City Council turned the sod on the project and Lord Mayor of Dublin Caroline Conroy said she was “delighted to have reached the point where we can begin work on this immensely important project”.

She added that the greenway “will also play an important part in our common objective of reducing our carbon footprint”.

Meanwhile, Transport Minister Eamon Ryan said the project “will link communities, friends, schools and sporting facilities” along the way.

Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe labelled it a “hugely exciting project for the city but equally a very important one for the North Inner City and Dublin Central”.

Elsewhere, chief executive officer of the National Transport Authority, Anne Graham explained more about the Phase 3 works.

“The delivery of this section will provide safe segregated cycling along the Royal Canal, linking the docklands to many of the city’s radial transport corridors, and on to places like Clontarf, Swords and the airport, Ballymun and Finglas, and to the planned Glasnevin Metrolink station,” she said.

Máirín Ó Cuireáin, Waterways Ireland’s Dublin development manager added that these works “will link Spencer Dock in Dublin 1 with Maynooth in Co Kildare, where the Royal Canal Greenway goes all the way to the Shannon”.

Waterways Ireland advises users of the Royal Canal in Dublin between Lock 1 at the North Strand Road and Lock 5 at Phibsborough that cycleway upgrade works have recently commenced on this stretch of the canal.

Facilitating these works will require closures of the canal towpaths in the area over the upcoming months through the spring and summer period, with diversion signage erected where applicable, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways says.

Meanwhile, navigation of this area will still be possible during these works, though some additional restrictions may apply. Any affect on planned passage will be advised at time of making contact, it adds.

Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels and waterways users on the Royal Canal in Co Kildare that a kayaking event will take place over a distance of 2.5km either side of Pike Bridge between Maynooth and Leixlip on Saturday 11 February.

It’s expected that some 30 kayaks will be involved. Masters of vessels are requested to proceed with additional caution in the vicinity of the event.