Waterways Ireland’s ‘Waterways Through Time’ podcast received the bronze prize at the 20th Irish Digital Media Awards in the highly competitive Best Podcast category.

The awards, which spotlight the very best work in the Irish digital media industry, took place last Friday 29 September at the Clayton Burlington Hotel in Dublin.

Two podcast series have been developed to take listeners on a journey through the curiosities and historical insights of Ireland’s inland waterways, delving into the Guinness barges and their role on the canals, while also sharing the stories from lock-keepers on the Barrow Navigation, the Shannon and the Grand Canal.

Waterways Through Time complements other resources in the Waterways Ireland digital archive. Chief executive John McDonagh said: “Ireland has a rich inland water heritage. Through this podcast we are placing this heritage centre stage to perpetuate these unique and inspiring insights.

“Waterways Ireland has a wonderful digital archive featuring thousands of drawings, sketches, and records of the Irish inland waterways, dating from the 18th century to the present day. The podcast series complements our oral history programme and the Stories from the Waterways film series, which are available on the Waterways Ireland website. We encourage people of all ages to listen to these podcasts and to visit our digital archive, which will add to their enjoyment of our waterways.”

The podcast series was developed and presented by well-known historian Turtle Bunbury. He said: “The series contains a mix of stories, historical events and contemporary interviews with people associated with the waterways. This was a fascinating project on which to work. It was truly a pleasure to research and develop it.

“Chatting to those connected to the waterways and weaving together the various myths, legends and historical facts to tell the stories of the waterways has been a wonderful experience that gives a new perspective on our inland waterway heritage.”

The podcast series is now available on the Waterways Ireland Digital Archive and on all podcast platforms.

Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels and waterway users on the Erne System that the FEARmanagh endurance adventure race will be taking place this Saturday 30 September 2023.

The multisport event — involving running, cycling and kayaking — will utilise Magho Jetty on Lower Lough Erne, which will be temporarily closed to mooring boats from 8am on Friday 29 September to 5pm on Saturday 30 September.

Vessels operating in the area should be aware of safety boats and kayaks operating on the water in the vicinity of Magho Jetty from 8am to 2pm on Saturday.

Masters of vessels and inland waterways users are advised to proceed with additional caution, to be aware of small non-motorised craft involved in the event and to comply with the instructions of safety boats.

Waterways Ireland advises all masters and owners of vessels on the Grand Canal that Offaly Rowing Club will be holding time trials between Locks 23 and 24 this Saturday 30 September.

The event will take place between 8am and 4pm. The cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways asks users of the navigation and adjacent greenway to follow the directions given by the event marshals on the day.

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 is concluding its jetty upgrade works in Leitrim village, and advises masters of vessels on and users of the Shannon-Erne Waterway of the following:

• The public jetty fronting the Marina Apartments in Leitrim village will reopen for mooring this Friday 29 September.
• The public jetty and car park at the service block in Leitrim village will be closed on Thursday 28 September to facilitate demobilisation of floating plant and equipment.

The cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways says it regrets any inconvenience that this may cause and thanks its customers for their cooperation in this matter.

Waterways Ireland advises all masters of vessels on and users of the Grand Canal that as part of the Green WIN project (more HERE), new deep well and flow devices are to be installed at Locks 35 and 36 at Shannon Harbour.

These works are due to begin Monday 25 September and will continue for around eight weeks, until mid-to-late November.

The works are land-based and navigation through the locks will not be affected, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways adds.

Waterways Ireland advises all masters of vessels on and users of the Grand Canal that it will be carrying out maintenance works on a damaged section of the north quay wall in Shannon Harbour.

Works will begin on Monday 25 September and will last around seven weeks until mid November, from 9am to 5pm each day.

A section of the harbour wall will be closed off to boat users during this time.

The access road to the north of Shannon Harbour will also be closed to public traffic and only local traffic will be permitted access.

Water levels in Shannon Harbour may have to be lowered for a time to allow these works to be completed, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways adds.

Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels on and users of the Shannon Navigation that diving operations will be taking place at Tarmonbarry Wier from Monday 25 September for a period of approximately one week.

Alpha Flag (Divers Flag) will be flown to indicate the presence of divers in the water. The cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways asks masters of vessels to please proceed with additional caution in the area.

Waterways Ireland advises all masters of vessels and waterways users that the Grand Canal’s Circular Line in Dublin (Lock C1 through to Lock C7) is now reopened.

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, the Circular Line had been closed to navigation due to fallen trees across the canal in the aftermath of Storm Betty in mid August.

Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels and waterway users of the Shannon Navigation that an ESB contractor will be carrying out repairs on the Ardnacrusha tailrace bridge at Parteen from Monday 18 September for a period of six weeks.

The works involve repairing some of the deteriorated structure from a pontoon. Masters of vessels using the Ardnacrusha tailrace during the repair works should contact the contractor on 087 6494454 prior to entering the tailrace in order to coordinate safe passage.