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Displaying items by tag: Waterways Ireland

Waterways Ireland advises all masters of vessels and waterways users on the Shannon Navigation that the timber jetty at Drummans Island on Lough Key will be closed for eight weeks from Friday 2 June for planned maintenance works.

Published in Inland Waterways

Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels and waterways users on the Erne System in Northern Ireland that Crom jetty on Upper Lough Erne has been reopened as of Friday 2 June after repair works.

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, the jetty had been closed last week due to fire damage being sustained at the facility, while a vessel was also sunken adjacent to the jetty.

Published in Inland Waterways

Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels and waterways users that the 2023 Erne Boat Rally is taking place from Saturday 3 to Monday 5 June.

In order to facilitate the event, the following jetties will be closed:

  • Round ‘O’ Jetty, outside moorings on the upstream side of the access walkway – Saturday 3 June from noon to 5pm
  • Rossigh Jetty – Sunday 4 June from 2pm to 5pm

In addition to the above jetty closures, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways ask all mariners to be aware of additional boating traffic on the Erne System for the duration of the rally.

Published in Inland Waterways

Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels on the Shannon Navigation that the in-river works for the construction of the Killaloe Bypass bridge are progressing as planned.

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, the bridge is being constructed around 1km downstream of the current Killaloe–Ballina bridge.

Three bridge piers will be constructed in the navigation by December. The first 10 piles have now been installed on the east side of the river, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways confirms.

A buoyed navigation channel is being provided for 100 metres either side of the in river works. The barges and piling rig will be operating on the west side of the river from Thursday 1 June.

Masters of vessels are requested to proceed at slow speed (5 knots, no wash) with additional caution in the vicinity of the works and to follow the instructions of the safety boat crew as there are hazards such as mooring lines to navigate.

Published in Inland Waterways

Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels and waterways users on the Erne System in Northern Ireland that Crom jetty on Upper Lough Erne is closed until further notice. This is due to fire damage being sustained at the jetty, while a vessel is also sunken adjacent to the jetty.

Published in Inland Waterways

Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels and waterways users on the Royal Canal that the following canoe polo events will take place in Mullingar Harbour during the summer months of 2023:

  • Junior Canoe Polo Competition - Sunday 21 May
  • National Club Championships – 8-9 July
  • Overload Canoe Polo Camp – 25-27 August

Masters of vessels are requested to moor outside the harbour area on these dates in order to facilitate the canoe polo events, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways adds.

Published in Inland Waterways

Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels and users of the Shannon Navigation that the Great River Swim will take place between Tarmonbarry and Ballyleague next Saturday 20 May.

As many as 800 swimmers as expected to participate in the swim event, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways adds.

The Shannon Navigation between Tarmonbarry Lock and Ballyleague bridge will be closed from 9am to 2pm on the day.

Tarmonbarry Lock and Clondara canal lock will also be closed for the same time period, while vessels will be prohibited from proceeding upstream from Ballyleague Bridge during this same time.

A series of large bright green and red buoys — branded with Gaelforce — will be positioned along the swim route on the evening of Friday 19 May and will removed after the swim on Saturday.

Published in Inland Waterways

Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels and waterway users that Lock 3 on the main line of the Grand Canal at Inchicore in Dublin has been reopened after the early completion of emergency repair works on the lock gates.

Published in Inland Waterways

Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels and waterway users on the Erne System in Northern Ireland that the Castle Museum and Henry Street jetties in Enniskillen will be closed to mooring over the coming days to facilitate the Erne Classic coarse angling competition.

The Henry Street Jetty will close from 8am on Saturday 6 May while the Castle Museum Jetty will close from 8am on Tuesday 9 May. Both will reopen from 6pm on Friday 12 May.

Masters of vessels and waterways users are requested to proceed with additional caution in the vicinity of the fishing competition and to be aware of possibility of fishing lines in the water, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways adds.

Published in Inland Waterways

Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels and waterway users that Lock 3 on the main line of the Grand Canal at Inchicore in Dublin will be closed from Friday 5 May until Saturday 3 June to facilitate emergency repair works on the lock gates.

Published in Inland Waterways
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Forty Foot Swimming Spot on Dublin Bay

The 'Forty Foot' is a rocky outcrop located at the southern tip of Dublin Bay at Sandycove, County Dublin from which people have been swimming in the Irish Sea all year round for 300 years or more. It is popular because it is one of few spots between Dublin city and Greystones in County Wicklow that allows for swimming at all stages of the tide, subject to the sea state.

Forty Foot History

Traditionally, the bathing spot was exclusively a men's bathing spot and the gentlemen's swimming club was established to help conserve the area.

Owing to its relative isolation and gender-specific nature it became a popular spot for nudists, but in the 1970s, during the women's liberation movement, a group of female equal-rights activists plunged into the waters and now it is also open to everyone and it is in the control of Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council.

Many people believe that swimming in extremely cold water is healthy and good for the immune system.

Is it safe to swim at the Forty Foot?

The Forty-Foot is a great place to swim because there is always enough water to get a dip but like all sea swimming, there are always hazards you need to be aware of.   For example, a lot of people like to dive into to the pool at the Forty-foot but there are submerged rocks that can be hazardous especially at low water.  The Council have erected signs to warn people of the underwater dangers. Other hazards include slippy granite cut stone steps that can often be covered with seaweed and of course marine wildlife including jellyfish that make their presence felt in the summer months as do an inquisitive nearby Sandycove seal colony.

The Forty-foot Christmas Day swim

A Dublin institution that brings people from across Dublin and beyond for a dip in the chilly winter sea. Bathers arrive in the dark from 6 am and by noon the entire forty foot is a sea of red Santa hats!