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.

On the next episode of Neven’s Greenway Food Trails on RTÉ One, chef Neven Maguire cycles the Royal Canal Greenway west of Maynooth to take in the attractions — culinary and otherwise — along the way.

His journey begins at Carton House with a luxurious breakfast. He meets executive chef Gary Rogers in Kathleen’s Kitchen, a restaurant located in the old servant’s kitchens which still has many of its original features such as cast iron stoves from the 1700s.

Neven’s next stop is Multyfarnham near Mullingar, where he meets chef and cookery instructor Kamalika Ranasingha who runs the award-winning Multyfarnham Cookery School in the picturesque grounds of Multyfarnham Friary, a Franciscan friary which is over 700 years old.

Neven then takes a boat trip along the Royal Canal and is joined by Derek Whelan of the Royal Canal Amenities Group, on a boat belonging to Waterways Ireland. Derek tells Neven about the history of the inland waterway, and they travel along the Whitworth Aqueduct which was built in 1816 — an incredible feat of engineering.

Heading to Lough Owel, Neven meets Joe Brady of Lough Owel Organic Beef near Mullingar. Joe, who runs a 60-acre organic cattle farm, brings his food truck to the shore of Lough Owel and prepares a delicious burger for Neven.

Joining the cycle way at Mullingar, Neven makes his way to Athlone where he calls in at Bon Chocolatiers to meet Georgia Quealy and Daniel Linehan. Here he learns how their luxurious chocolates are made and intricately decorated.

A little further north on the picturesque shores of Lough Ree is Wineport Lodge, where Neven meets head chef Darren Walsh who shares his mouth-watering recipe for slow roast pork belly.

Neven’s Greenway Food Trails is on RTÉ One this Wednesday 1 February at 8.30pm and viewers in Ireland can catch up later on the RTÉ Player.

Waterways Ireland, in partnership with four local authorities, has launched a new winter ‘Make a Connection’ campaign to encourage people to ‘go green and blue’ this festive season and enjoy connecting with the outdoor spaces of the Royal Canal Greenway during the most wonderful time of the year, in a bid to reduce stress and boost overall wellbeing in the winter months.

The campaign has been launched by the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways in partnership with Westmeath County Council, Kildare County Council, Longford County Council and Meath County Council.

A representative from Waterways Ireland said: “Since launching, the Royal Canal Greenway has played an important role in providing a place for people to re-energise and destress.

“We know that from research there is a positive association between encountering green spaces, wildlife, nature, bodies of water such as canals and rivers, and mental wellbeing.

“The 130km canal route has an abundance of trees, plants and wildlife which means it's capacity to improve mental wellbeing is likely to be due to the multiple benefits associated with both green and blue spaces, and indeed the social, community connection with other

“We are encouraging as many people to visit the Royal Canal Greenway as possible this winter in a bid to access this free amazing space, which can play such a vital role in our wellbeing.”

Discover winter’s natural beauty

The Royal Canal Greenway travels from cosmopolitan Maynooth, through Enfield and Mullingar, to charming Cloondara in Longford. A mostly flat trail, the Royal Canal Greenway is steeped in history and was once the domain of placid barge horses, which today has become the realm of walkers, runners and cyclists of all ages and stages.

Indeed, earlier this year it was named European Cycle Route of the Year 2022 by leading Dutch walking and cycling fair Fiets en Wandelbeurs, as previously reported by Afloat.ie.

Many people find that packing a lunch and a ramble along the flat path, passing through picturesque waterside villages is one way to enjoy the Royal Canal Greenway.

It is also home to many welcoming cafes and coffee boxes to stop at for both food and drink, often with outside seating, as well as picnic spots, playgrounds and attractions so you can support local businesses whilst socialising with friends and family.

Enjoy active experiences

While the winter months can make it more difficult to get outside, there are still a wide variety of outdoor activities that can get you moving on the Royal Canal Greenway, for all ages, while staying active.

There are also a number of fitness events scheduled to take place on or near the Royal Canal Greenway in the coming weeks and in the New Year including weekly park runs in the scenic village of Kilcock and in Mullingar. Westmeath will also host the annual Mullingar Half Marathon on St Patrick’s Day.

Stay and unwind

The Royal Canal Greenway is also home to many hotels, guest houses and B&Bs who enjoy the views of both the green and blue spaces. The location of these allows enjoyments of the path at a pace that suits all age-groups and abilities.

As the trail passes through four counties all the way from Ireland’s Ancient East to Ireland's Hidden Heartlands, there are plenty of places to stay overnight at and relax. Many are offering special winter discounts so you can enjoy a festive staycation at an affordable price.

Waterways Ireland advises users of the Royal Canal in West Dublin that the towpath between Pakenham Bridge and Collins Bridge, north and southwest of Westmanstown Golf Club respectively, will be closed to public use from this Friday 2 December until Wednesday 21 December in order to facilitate bank maintenance works in the area.

Waterways Ireland advises users of the Royal Canal in Dublin’s north inner city of works on Lock 4 between Mountjoy and Whitworth Road from Tuesday 29 November.

Over the next six weeks these works will comprise replacement of the middle lock gates in this double-chamber lock and associated works.

No navigation passage will be possible in the canal at this time, but the adjacent towpaths will remain open for pedestrians and other users, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways adds.

Waterways Ireland advises users of the Royal Canal in northeast Kildare that the towpath between Cope Bridge and Louisa Bridge in Leixlip will be closed to public use for the upcoming months, effective from next Wednesday 9 November. 

This closure is to facilitate upgrading works to the path for future shared cycle and pedestrian use, as part of an overall contract to upgrade the Royal Canal towpath between Leixlip and Maynooth. 

Future path closures along this overall route will also be required, and these will be similarly notified in advance, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways says.

Waterways Ireland advises all masters of vessels on and users of the Royal Canal that the inland waterway is closed to navigation at Killashee in Co Longford as of Thursday 27 October until Friday 23 December for essential culvert repair works.