Waterways Ireland has given notice of upcoming closures on the Lower Bann in Co Antrim and the Grand Canal in Dublin.

On-location filming will see the Lower Bann closed to all boat traffic from the downstream side of Portglenone Bridge to Aghahoy Jetty on Saturday 5 September from 9am to 4pm, and again on Tuesday 8 September from 7am to 7pm.

Safety boats will be on the waterway and users are requested to follow the instructions of the safety boat crews.

Then later in the month in Dublin, levels C3 & C4 on the Grand Canal will be closed to navigation from 21 September for repair works on Lock C4 at Mespil Road.

As a result, no further boat passages into or out of Dublin past these levels will be possible from that date for the remainder of the 2020 boating season, and local boat movements through these locks will not be allowed until late December.

There will also be restrictions to pedestrian movements in the area of Lock C4 due to the ongoing works.

Waterways Ireland advises users of the Barrow Navigation that the towpath will be closed in two locations to facilitate works on the Barrow Blueway.

The sections between Milltown Bridge, Athy and Ballymanus Bridge in Vicarstown, and between the 20th Lock in Ballteague and 22nd Lock in Glenaree will be inaccessible for several weeks to allow for the blueway upgrade works.

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, the proposed upgrade aims to improve access to the Barrow Way, both on and along the water, offering an enhanced experience to walkers, cyclists, wheelchairs users, paddlers and families.

Waterways Ireland is part of a new Government campaign promoting responsible behaviour when enjoying the outdoors and help turn back a recent increase in litter hotspots, particularly in scenic locations.

​Love This Place, Leave No Trace is a joint initiative with Leave No Trace Ireland alongside the National Parks and Wildlife Service, Inland Fisheries Ireland, Fáilte Ireland, Coillte and the OPW.
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The campaign comes after what’s been described as “a notable increase” in littering throughout the country in recent weeks since the easing of coronavirus-related movement restrictions.

“We need to take action now to halt the scourge of litter in our beautiful countryside,” said Maura Kiely, chief executive of Leave No Trace Ireland.

“Everyone needs to take responsibility. Littering is a threat to our fragile ecosystems and a moment of laziness can have long-term effects.

“An aluminium can takes 400 to 500 years to break down; a plastic bag can take up to 20 years. A discarded plastic bottle, meanwhile, will last for a million years.”

‘As more of us ‘make a break for it in Ireland’ this year, let’s respect the environment which is one of Ireland's greatest assets’

Catherine Martin, Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht, welcomed the new campaign.

“We all love to exercise and be active in our scenic outdoor spaces so let’s ensure they remain accessible to all by Leaving No Trace and keeping our natural environment litter-free.

“As more of us ‘make a break for it in Ireland’ this year, let’s respect the environment which is one of Ireland's greatest assets.”

Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan, added: “Litter, disturbance to vegetation, water pollution, wildlife, livestock and other people are all indicators of the need to develop a national ethic that protects both natural and cultural heritage.

“I would encourage everyone to treat our natural heritage with the respect it deserves and to follow the principles of Leave No Trace.”

Leave No Trace issued its guidelines on how to be responsible in the outdoors earlier this year — and further details, including outdoor skills and tips for planning, are available from Leave No Trace Ireland HERE.

Waterways Ireland has closed a number of jetties and visitor moorings on its inland waterways in counties Laois, Offaly and Kildare due to the localised coronavirus restrictions imposed by the Government from yesterday evening, Friday 7 August.

The affected jetties are Clonmacnoise, Shannonbridge, Shannon Harbour and Banagher on Shannon Navigation, while visitor moorings on the Grand Canal, Royal Canal, Barrow Navigation and Barrow Line in the affected counties are also closed for at least the next two weeks.

Locks and facilities on all other parts of the Shannon Navigation, Grand and Royal Canals, Barrow Navigation and Barrow Line are unaffected at present and remain open, but Waterways Ireland strongly encourages people to strictly observe social distancing measures.

Meanwhile, the Waterways Ireland quays at Connaught Harbour in Portumna will be used as an operations base for Carrickcraft and Silverline vessels from today, Saturday 8 August. Limited mooring space will be available at Connaught Harbour for a two-week period.

Works on phase one of the Barrow Blueway are now set to commence this month after the original start date was pushed back by three weeks.

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, the scheme, when complete, will provide a multi-activity 46km off-road, flat and accessible public space and leisure route along the inland waterway running from Lowtown in Kildare, through the towns of Rathangan, Monasterevin, Vicarstown, to Athy.

This coming Tuesday 4 August will see works commence at Milltown Bridge, some 3km north of Athy, with localised closures to facilitate the upgrade of the towpath.

The duration of these works along the towpath this year, under the auspices of ​Kildare County Council in conjunction with Laois County Council and Waterways Ireland, will be around 16–18 weeks.

The proposed upgrade aims to improve access to the Barrow Way, both on and along the water, offering an enhanced experience to walkers, cyclists, wheelchairs users, paddlers and families.

Waterways Ireland and Fáilte Ireland are encouraging staycationers to ‘make a break for it’ on the Shannon Navigation this summer.

And the latter has compiled a list of all currently open places to eat along with things to see and so along the waterway.

The visitor services directory for the Shannon Navigation is available HERE.

“The body responsible for canal boating doesn’t seem to want boating on the canals.”

That’s the response of Gary Long, one of a number of barge owner on the Grand Canal in Dublin at the centre of a recent controversy over houseboat moorings on the inland waterway, as he spoke to The Irish Times this week.

The ‘liveaboard’ barge owners had faced eviction from their homes by Waterways Ireland this month as current by-laws prohibit mooring in any one spot for longer than five days.

The owners were given a reprieve of sorts by the New Minister of State for Heritage, Malcolm Noonan, and assured that their vessels would not be confiscated and sold off.

And the minister has promised that Waterways Ireland will engage in “finding a long-term, sustainable solution to regularise the use of the canals”.

But for now, liveaboards like Gary Long — and Luís Gómezcala who lives on his boat at the 12th Lock on the Royal Canal — remain in legal limbo.

The Irish Times has more on the story HERE.

Waterways Ireland advises masters and users of the Shannon Navigation and Shannon-Erne Waterway that locks will be operating at summer hours from this coming Monday 20 July.

Locks on the Shannon Navigation will operate from 9am to 8.30pm Mondays to Saturdays, and 9am to 6pm on Sundays. On the Shannon-Erne Waterway, the hours are 9am to 8pm daily. (See below for contact details for each lock.)

The passage fee will continue to be waived until further notice. However, a smart card will be required to operate locks on the Shannon-Erne Waterway at all times; these may only be purchased in advance from Waterways Ireland’s online shop or from designated retail outlets along the waterway.

Work is also ongoing to reopen the service blocks - toilets and showers — at all locations along both waterways. Each is undergoing deep cleaning before reopening, and a comprehensive daily cleaning rota is being set up.

Reopening is on a phased basis with blocks at Lough Key and Carrick-on-Shannon the first to open on Monday.

It’s expected the rest — including Boyle Harbour, Dromod Harbour, Drumshanbo Lock, Portrun, Lecarrow, Ballinasloe, Scarriff and Killaloe — will be reopened throughout the week, with all service blocks abatable by Friday 24 July.

Users must comply with coronavirus protocols and HSE guidelines at all times when making use of these facilities.

Shannon Navigation lock-keepers are available at the following numbers (all +353):

• Lough Allen Canal – 071 964 1552
• Clarendon Lock - 071 966 7011
• Albert Lock - 071 963 7715
• Rooskey Lock - 071 963 8018
• Tarmonbarry Lock - 043 332 6117
• Athlone Lock - 090 649 2026
• Poolboy Lock - 090 964 4938
• Victoria Lock - 057 915 1359
• Portumna Bridge - 090 974 1011
• Ardnacrusha - 061 344 515
• Sarsfield Lock - 087 797 2998

Should any assistance be required on the Shannon-Erne Waterway, use the following contacts:

• Lock 1 - +44 286 7748976
• Ballyconnell Waterway Patroller - +353 87 2603662
• Ballinamore Waterway Patroller - +353 87 2602478
• Kilclare Waterway Patroller - +353 87 2603663
• Lock 16 - +353 87 2608569
• Carrick-on-Shannon Office - +353 71 9650562

 For further information on the reopening of the navigation please visit www.waterwaysireland.org

Waterways Ireland advises masters and owners of vessels that low water levels exist on the upstream approaches to Meelick Weir and Victoria Lock, north of Portumna on the Shannon Navigation.

Water levels are currently up to 45cm below summer levels as weir boards are out at Meelick Weir, which creates a draw-down of water levels in the area.

Masters of vessels, particularly those with deep drafts, are advised to navigate with additional caution and to remain within the navigation at all times.

Waterways Ireland has committed to looking for a long-term solution for people living on houseboats on the Grand Canal, it has emerged.

The news comes after last week’s final-hour reprieve for a number of barge owners who had faced eviction under the current by-law which prohibits mooring in any one spot for longer than five consecutive days.

They also faced the prospect of losing their vessels under original plans to lift them from the canal and impound them for a month before selling them off.

New Minister of State for Heritage, Malcolm Noonan, stepped in to assure these barge owners that theirs and others’ “genuine or legitimate houseboats or so-called ‘live-ons’” would not be removed.

He added that Waterways Ireland, the cross-border body that manages Ireland’s inland waterways, would now engage “in a collaborative process with all stakeholders around finding a long-term, sustainable solution to regularise the use of the canals”.

This is in addition to Waterways Ireland’s 10-year strategic review, which is expected to be available for consultation later this year — and will consider the likes of new infrastructure on the canal to cater for the requirements of houseboats.

TheJournal.ie has more on the story HERE.