Waterways Ireland is seeking planning permission for a five-year programme of maintenance works along the Barrow Navigation at townlands throughout counties Carlow, Laois and Kildare.

The proposed works will consist of essential maintenance and repair of the navigation assets and will include dredging, back-drain maintenance, and towpath and bank repairs.

Waterways Ireland says it seeks to improve the assets along the Barrow Navigation, which is a nationally important recreation and navigation corridor and also has a unique heritage and biodiversity value.

The Barrow Navigation features many bridges, locks and buildings that are protected structures and/or national monuments, and the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways says its works will seek to protect these structures as well as the natural, cultural and amenity potential of the corridor to ensure the continued use and accessibility for all users.

Following validation, the planning documents will be publicly available on the three councils’ planning portals. Waterways Ireland encourages the public and interested parties to familiarise themselves with the documents and submit potential feedback to the councils.

Gerard Bayly, senior engineer on the Barrow with Waterways Ireland said: “The Barrow Navigation is a nationally important heritage corridor comprising a rich tapestry of natural, built and cultural assets.

“At Waterways Ireland, our goal is to ensure we can provide safe and sustainable experiences for all users of our waterways.

“We seek to maintain the heritage and biodiversity of Ireland’s waterways while providing a high-quality navigation and recreation offering, for the benefit of all.”

Waterways Ireland advises all masters of vessels on and users of the Shannon Navigation that the lifting bridges at Tarmonbarry and Rooskey in Co Roscommon will be closed on Thursday 8 and Friday 9 February to facilitate structural inspections.

In an update on Friday, Waterways added that while Rooskey lifting bridge will reopen on Saturday 10 February, the bridge at Tarmonbarry will remain closed until next Friday 16 February to facilitate maintenance works.

Update 16/2: Waterways Ireland wishes to notify masters of vessels and users Tarmonbarry Bridge will remain closed until Friday 8 March to facilitate essential maintenance works. A diversion route is available via the Camlin River.

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.

Waterways Ireland advises all masters of vessels on and users of the Lower Bann navigation in Northern Ireland that due to the installation of new lock gates at Movanagher Lock, the lock will be closed for a period of around five weeks as of Tuesday 6 February.

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.

Waterways Ireland advises all masters of vessels on and users of the Shannon Navigation that the westernmost section of the public jetty access at the Boyle Harbour public amenity in Boyle, Co Roscommon will be closed from Monday 5 to Friday 23 February to facilitate planned maintenance works to the harbour.

Waterways Ireland has been accused of attempting to gentrify Grand Canal Dock with plans to hike annual fees for houseboat dwellers by nearly 700 per cent.

Residents among the 30 vessels at the Dublin city centre mooring told The Journal that they have no objection in principle to an increase in the annual mooring fees, which include access to electricity, water and refuse collection.

But they argue that the sharp rise from €578 annually to €4,000, rising to €7,500 over six years, is “not affordable or realistic”.

In response, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways says the proposed rise in charges is in line with the “superior” facilities at Grand Canal Dock — adding that any houseboat owners unwilling to pay would be “facilitated at an alternative location”.

The Journal has more on the story HERE.

Waterways Ireland advises masters and owners of vessels that it will be carrying out maintenance works on the waiting jetty on the upstream side of the 35th Lock in Shannon Harbour.

Works will begin on Monday 29 January and will last for four weeks, from 9am to 5pm each day. The jetty will be closed during this time, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways says.

Waterways Ireland advises masters and owners of vessels on the Grand Canal that the Barrow Line from Lock 24 (McCartney’s) to Lock 25 (Moores) will reopen to navigation on Thursday 28 March following essential quay wall refurbishment at Bell Harbour in Monasterevin.

Localised quay wall restrictions will remain within Bell Harbour to facilitate ongoing paving and landscaping works, and vessels navigating within the harbour are asked to proceed with caution, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways adds.

Waterways Ireland advises all masters of vessels on and users of the Shannon Navigation that access through Rooskey Lock in Co Leitrim will be limited until Friday 9 February.

This is as due to planned maintenance works to the lock, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways adds.

Prior access through the lock can be arranged by calling Roosky Lockhouse on 071 963 8018 between 9am and noon.

Waterways Ireland is inviting members of the public and interested parties to have their say on proposed revisions to the Shannon Navigation and canals bye-laws in a second phase of consultation.

The consultation covers the Shannon Navigation (including the Shannon-Erne Waterway), Royal Canal, Grand Canal, Barrow Line and Barrow Navigation, and submissions in Phase 2 are open until Monday 26 February.

Following the initial consultation period, which concluded in late October 2023, Waterways Ireland says it reviewed all the submissions and has published a Phase 1 consultation report.

Based upon the feedback received in the first phase, a set of amended draft bye-laws has been issued and can be found on waterwaysireland.org as well as in local libraries along the waterways corridors.

Members of the public can also attend any of two information evenings, taking place on Tuesday 6 February at the Hodson Bay Hotel in Athlone (6pm-9pm) and Wednesday 7 February at Mullingar Park Hotel (6pm-9pm).

Submissions to the public consultation can be made through the online survey on the website, by email to [email protected] and by post to Waterways Ireland Inspectorate, Dock Rd, Athlone, Co Westmeath, N37 RW26.

Following this consultation, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways says it make any necessary changes to the bye-laws following a review of submissions, with the next stage being ministerial approval.

Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels on and users of the Erne System in Northern Ireland that piling works have commenced adjacent to the East Jetty at Devenish Island on Lower Lough Erne in Co Fermanagh.

This work is to facilitate an extension of the existing jetty with completion anticipated by end of March. During the extension work, access will be maintained to the existing jetty so far as reasonably practical.

Masters of vessels are advised to adhere to all signage and direction of safety boats, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways adds.