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 users of the Barrow Navigation that the trackway section of the Barrow Way from Graiguenamanagh Bridge to 100m south of Upper Tinnahinch Lock is closed until Friday 7 April.

This is to accommodate Carlow County Council’s undertaking of site investigation works for Graiguenamanagh/Tinnahinch Flood Relief Scheme.

The trackway was closed on Tuesday 28 March and there will be no public access daily from 8am to 7pm, with restricted public access at all other times. Local property access will be accommodated, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways adds.

Waterways Ireland reminds all masters and owners of vessels on the Grand Canal, Royal Canal, Barrow Line and Barrow Navigation that all canal permits expired on 1 November 2022 and must be renewed for 2023.

Permits can be renewed online at the Waterways Ireland website HERE.

The cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways emphasises that vessels with no permit, as required by Bye Law 6(8) of the Canals Act, will be “removed as operationally convenient”.

Waterways Ireland advises all masters of vessels and waterways users on the Barrow Navigation that the construction of the Athy Distributor Road Bridge has progressed to stage three with the bridge deck installation.

Resulting from this, new navigation and pedestrian management measures enable the navigation channel and trackway in this area will remain open to users.

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, the new road bridge is being built some 30 metres downstream of the currently disused Wolfhill Railway Bridge in Athy, Co Kildare

Masters of vessels are advised of the following:

• Navigation is restricted to the navigation channel only for all vessels and water users, including canoes, PWCs etc.
• Follow the safety and directional signage.
• Follow the instructions of safety personnel who will be present on the navigation during crane lifting operations.

Trackway users are advised to follow the safety and directional signage; and to follow the instructions of safety personnel who will be present on the trackway during crane lifting operations.

Masters of vessels and trackway users are advised to exercise caution in the vicinity of the works. Further temporary closures and restrictions will be required for the refurbishment of Wolfhill Railway Bridge, with details to be advised in due course.

Waterways Ireland advises all masters of vessels and waterways users on the Barrow Navigation that the construction of the Athy Distributor Road bridge is under way and has progressed to the stage where interaction with navigation and trackway users is required.

The new road bridge is being built some 30 metres downstream of the currently disused Wolfhill Railway Bridge in Athy, Co Kildare.

The navigation and trackway will be closed to traffic between the 28th Lock at the Horse Bridge and Ardreigh Lateral Canal to facilitate the lifting and placing of new bridge beams on Monday 23, Tuesday 24 and Wednesday 25 January from 7am to 12pm each day.

In an update, Waterways Ireland confirmed that the navigation and trackway will be closed for a further two mornings on Thursday 26 and Friday 27 January for the same.

Masters of vessels are advised to exercise caution in the vicinity of the works and to follow the instructions of safety personnel in the area.

Further temporary closures and restrictions will be required for bridge deck installation and Wolfhill Railway Bridge refurbishment, details of which will be advised in due course.

Waterways Ireland advises all masters of vessels and water users that the Shannon Navigation, Erne System, Barrow Navigation and Northern Ireland’s River Bann are currently experiencing high water levels which are expected to continue to rise.

All users of these inland waterways should proceed with additional caution and bear the following in mind:

• Air draft is reduced under all bridges and power lines.
• Water velocity is significantly increased.
• Access to jetties can be difficult as gangways and pontoons are elevated.
• Navigation markers, pontoons, jetties may be submerged.
• Mooring lines should checked regularly if it safe to do so.

Waterways Ireland reminds all masters and owners of vessels on the Grand Canal, Royal Canal and Barrow Navigation that all canal permits expire on Tuesday 1 November and must be renewed for 2022/23.

Permits can be renewed online at the Waterways Ireland website HERE.

The cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways emphasises that vessels with no permit, as required by Bye Law 6(8) of the Canals Act, will be “removed as operationally convenient”.

Waterways Ireland advises all users of the Royal Canal, Grand Canal and Barrow Navigation of a number of events scheduled to take place in the coming days and weeks on these inland waterways.

The Grand Canal will see the Shannon Harbour Canal Boat Rally this weekend from Friday 24 to Sunday 26 June, hosted by the Inland Waterways Association of Ireland (IWAI). Vessels attending are required to apply for a free visitors permit before entering the canal network.

On the Barrow Navigation, ad angling competition will take place in the St Mullins area from Saturday 25 to Monday 27 June. Masters of vessels are requested to proceed at slow speed and note any directions issued in the vicinity.

On the Royal Canal, a canoe polo event will be taking place in the Kilcock Harbour area this Sunday 26 June. Waterways Ireland requests that the polo pitch areas and harbour be kept clear of all vessels at this time to facilitate the events, and that masters of vessels should comply with instructions from marshals. 

And next month, Mullingar Harbour will host the IWAI’s Float to the Fleadh from Sunday 31 July to Sunday 7 August. As with the Shannon Harbour rally, vessels attending are required to apply for a free visitors permit before entering the canal network.

Waterways Ireland advises all users of the Barrow Navigation that a Dragon Boat regatta is taking place at Carlow Town Park in Graiguecullen today, Sunday 12 June.

The Barrow Dragon Boat Regatta was scheduled to get under way at 8am and will continue until 6.30pm this afternoon.

Masters of vessels are requested to proceed at slow speed and with minimum wash and note any directions issued by the stewards.

Waterways Ireland advises all users of the Barrow Navigation that a Dragon Boat regatta will take place in Emily Square, Athy, Co Kildare from 9am to 6pm this Sunday 1 May.

Elsewhere, users of the Royal Canal are advised that a kayaking and watersport event will take place in Mullingar Harbour from 9am to 3pm next Thursday 5 May.

Masters of other craft are requested to proceed at slow speed and with minimum wash and note any directions issued by the stewards at each event.