Waterways Ireland advises masters of all craft that diving operations will take place at Lough Erne Yacht Club on Lower Lough Erne from Monday 4 January for around seven days.

A diving alpha flag will be present at the location of the dive site, and masters of vessels on the inland waterway should proceed with additional caution when in the area.

Waterways Ireland has announced the closure of the walkway at Meelick Weir on the Shannon Navigation in Co Galway from today, Saturday 2 January until further notice.

The closure of the walkway is at the request of An Garda Siochana due to what is claimed are issues with compliance with social distancing protocols on and near the walkway along the inland waterway.

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.