Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels on and users of the Shannon Navigation that the Quest Lough Derg event takes place around Killaloe, Co Clare and Ballina, Co Tipperary on Saturday 9 September.

To accommodate the event, the Shannon Navigation will be closed from noon on Friday 8 to Saturday 9 September at 7pm.

A floating pontoon will be placed across the Shannon Navigation some 100 metres upstream of Killaloe bridge. The pontoon will be lit during the hours of darkness and safety boats will be in the area while the pontoon is in place. No vessel or craft should come within 50 metres of the pontoon while it is in position.

The slipway at Ballina will be closed while the pontoon is being constructed. Construction will take place from Tuesday 5 to Friday 8 September and the pontoon will be dismantled on Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 September.

There will be restricted access to the Waterways Ireland jetties and pump-out facility in Killaloe from 3pm on Friday 8 to 7pm on Saturday 9 September. Mooring space will be available upstream of the pump-out facility.

The flow gates on the Killaloe Canal will be manned from 6am to 7.45am on Saturday 9 September to facilitate anglers and smaller vessels that wish to proceed upstream or downstream on Saturday morning while the pontoon is in place.

Some 1,500 athletes will move along the Waterways Ireland jetties and cross the flow-gate walkway in the morning and will return by the same route in the afternoon of Saturday 9 September 2023. Care should be taken when using the jetties and flow-gate walkway as there will be significant pedestrian traffic in these areas.

The kayaking element of Quest Lough Derg will take place at Twomilegate, Co Clare. Masters are requested to take heed of advice and directions from safety craft monitoring the event and to proceed at slow speed and with minimum wash in the vicinity of Twomilegate and Killaloe during the event.

The cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways says it thanks its customers for their cooperation.