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Displaying items by tag: Boat Rally

#Liffey - A parade of illuminated boats is set to light up the River Liffey in Dublin city centre this Saturday evening 17 May.

Organised by the Dublin Branch of the Inland Waterways Association of Ireland (IWAI), the parade will depart from Grand Canal Dock at 8.30pm and will rally at the Civic Offices on Wood Quay around an hour later, ahead of a spectacular light show staged on a barge moored on the Liffey at 10pm.

This event is part of the IWAI's Dublin rally that began on 4 May and continued till saturday 24 May.

Nearly 100 boats are in Grand Canal Basin for the rally, many of them navigating the Royal and Grand Canals and River Barrow to Dublin for the rally. This year is a special celebration of a number of significant anniversaries.

Not only is the IWAI celebrating it's 60th year, but its Dublin branch is 50 years old this year, and this is the 30th year of the Dublin rally.

In addition, the Royal Canal Amenity Group is celebrating its 40th anniversary, while it's also 20 years since the Shannon-Erne Waterway was reopened as a gong concern, and 10 years since the IWAI's Boyne branch was founded.

The boat parade will also highlight the IWAI campaign for the reform of bye-laws governing Ireland's main inland navigation routes.

It's just one of numerous other events taking place including family fun days, BBQs and parties in various locations. For a full schedule of events and information on how you can get involved with the rally see the IWAI website HERE.

Published in Inland Waterways
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Dun Laoghaire Baths Renovation

Afloat has been reporting on the new plans for the publically owned Dun Laoghaire Baths site located at the back of the East Pier since 2011 when plans for its development first went on display by Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council. 

Foreshore consent was applied for in 2013.

Last used 30 years ago as the 'Rainbow Rapids' before falling into dereliction – the new site does not include a public pool.

The refurbished Dun Laoghaire Baths include the existing Baths Pavilion for use as artist workspaces, a gallery café and for the provision of public toilet facilities. 

Work finally got underway at Dún Laoghaire on the €9 million redevelopments of the old Dún Laoghaire Baths site in June 2018 under a contract with SIAC-Mantovani.

The works have removed dilapidated structures to the rear of the Pavilion to permit the creation of a new route and landscaping that will connect the walkway at Newtownsmith to both the East Pier and the Peoples Park. 

Original saltwater pools have been filled in and new enhanced facilities for swimming and greater access to the water’s edge by means of a short jetty have also been provided.

The works included the delivery of rock armour to protect the new buildings from storm damage especially during easterly gales. 

It hasn't all been plain sailing during the construction phase with plastic fibres used in construction washing into the sea in November 2018

Work continues on the project in Spring 2020 with the new pier structure clearly visible from the shoreline.

A plinth at the end of the pier will be used to mount a statue of Roger Casement, a former Sandycove resident and Irish nationalist.