Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels on and users of the Shannon Navigation that the closure of Tarmonbarry Bridge will be extended until at least Monday 27 May.

This further delay is due to additional repair works requiring specialist components being manufactured and delivered from international suppliers.

The cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways says the parts required are essential to the safe operation of the bridge.

A diversion route remains available via the Camlin River with additional staff being deployed to Clondra Lock to aid vessel movements along the Camlin.

Waterways Ireland says it regrets any inconvenience that this may cause and thanks its customers for their cooperation in relation to this matter.

Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels on and users of the Shannon Navigation that the Gaelforce Great River Swim will take place between Tarmonbarry and Ballyleague next month.

Around 500 swimmers will participate in the swim event in Lanesborough on Saturday 18 May.

The Shannon Navigation between Tarmonbarry lock and Ballyleague bridge will be closed on the day between 9am and 2pm. Tarmonbarry lock and Cloondara Canal lock will also be closed and vessels will be prohibited from proceeding upstream from Ballyleague bridge during thus 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 17 May and will be removed after the swim on Saturday 18 May, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways says.

Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels and waterways users on the Erne System in Northern Ireland that Fermanagh’s annual Classic Fishing Festival will take place on Lough Erne from this Sunday 28 April to Friday 3 May.

Inland waterways users are advised that the Castle/Museums and Henry Street jetties in Enniskillen and the Tom’s Island jetty on Lower Lough Erne will be closed during the angling competition.

Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels on and users of the Shannon Navigation that the lifting bridge at Tarmonbarry in Co Roscommon will now reopen on Friday 3 May.

This extension of the bridge’s closure since February is a result of additional repair works required following a bridge strike.

The cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways says it apologises for extending this closure “but the additional work is essential to ensure the bridge is safely operational in advance of the bank holiday weekend”.

A diversion route remains available via the Camlin River.

Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels on users of the Erne System in Northern Ireland that the downstream section of the Henry Street Floating Jetty in Enniskillen will be closed from this Sunday 21 to next Friday 26 April.

This closure is to accommodate the Mini Mahon’s Festival angling event.

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 in relation to this matter.

Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels and waterways users on the Erne System that the Upper Lough Erne Predator Challenger boat pike angling competition will take place this Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 April.

The event will take place from the Share Centre Activity Centre on Upper Lough Erne, with around 50 boats taking part from 9am to 5pm each day.

Waterways users are reminded that the slipways at Corradillar and Derryadd will be busy with fishing boats launching for event.

Masters are requested to keep wash to a minimum when passing fishing vessels, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways adds.

Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels on the Shannon Navigation that in-river works for the construction of the Killaloe Bypass upper bridge superstructure are progressing as planned and will continue until October 2024.

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

A buoyed navigational channel continues to be provided for 100 metres either side of the in-river works.

The following plant and equipment will be operating on or overhead the navigation during the upper bridge works:

• 600t crawler crane set up on the east shore
• Stabilising crane barge (30m x 23m x 1.88m)
• 100t crawler crane
• Tugboat/pusher boat
• Dumb barge (23m x 9m) and mobile elevated work platforms
• Safety boat
• Landing pontoon and gangways

From next Tuesday 2 to Friday 19 April, the final steel girders will be lifted into position in the central spans of the bridge.

This is a heavy lift operation and deemed high-risk work, requiring calm waters for operation of mobile elevated work platforms (MEWP) on barges.

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 bridge piers, steel piles and mooring lines to navigate.

The cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways thanks its customers for their cooperation in relation to these works.

Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels that the winter mooring period will end this Easter Sunday, 31 March, on the Shannon Navigation and Shannon-Erne Waterway.

Shannon Navigation Bye-law No. 17(3) will apply from 31 March, such that vessels should not berth in the same harbour for longer than the statutory period of five consecutive days nor more than a total of seven days in any one month.

Services were reconnected to Waterways Ireland harbours and jetties from Friday 15 March, 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 Battlebridge Lock and the harbour areas immediately upstream and downstream in Battlebridge, Co Leitrim will be closed from this Wednesday 27 to Friday 29 March due to planned diving inspections in the area.

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 masters of vessels on and users of the Shannon Navigation that all locks and bridges within the North Shannon region will be closed for one day on Thursday 21 March to facilitate mandatory staff training.

The cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways apologies for any inconvenience this may cause and thanks its customers for their cooperation in relation to this matter.