Waterways Ireland advises masters and owners of vessels on the Shannon-Erne Waterway that all 16 locks on the inland waterway will be out of service from Friday 23 December to Monday 2 January inclusive.

No lock passage by boat will be possible during this period. Normal service will resume at 9am on Tuesday 3 January.

The service blocks at Aghalane and Haughton’s Shore are closed until Wednesday 15 March. Service blocks at Ballyconnell, Ballinamore, Keshcarrigan and Leitrim shall remain open.

All associated land-based and water-based Blueway trails shall remain open.

Further information is available during normal business hours from Waterways Ireland’s Carrick-on-Shannon office at +44 (0)71 965 0562.

Waterways Ireland advises all masters of vessels and users of the Lower Bann that water levels between Carnroe Weir and the The Cutts are currently low due to a technical issue at The Cutts sluice gates, south of Coleraine in Northern Ireland.

Masters of vessels are advised to restrict movements along this section of the Lower Bann navigation until further notice, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways says.

Waterways Ireland advises all masters of vessels and water users that additional caution should be taken when using its facilities during the current hard frost weather conditions.

Masters of vessels and water users should bear in mind that the hard frost will lead to ice and slippery conditions on walkways, jetties, pontoons, slipways, service blocks and other areas on the inland waterways.

Masters of vessels should also ensure that their vessels are checked regularly as the hard frost can lead to burst pipes onboard the vessel.

Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels and users of the Grand Canal in northeast Kildare that the towpath from Sallins to Naas Golf Club is closed to pedestrian and cycle traffic as of Monday 5 December and will not reopen until 11 September 2023.

This is to facilitate development for Phase 1 of the Grand Canal Greenway, construction works on which commenced in October, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways adds. Afloat.ie has more on the first phase of works HERE.

Waterways Ireland advises all masters of vessels and waterway users on the Shannon Navigation that the Head of the Shannon rowing event will take place in Carrick-on-Shannon this Saturday 3 December.

The event will take place downstream of Carrick bridge for a distance of 3.5km. The rowing starts at navigation maker known locally as White Woman/White Lady downstream of Carrick-on-Shannon and will proceed back to the Marina just downstream of the bridge.

The rowing events will take place between 10am and 4pm. Masters of vessels are requested to proceed with additional caution in the vicinity of the rowing events during these times.

This event is the second Head of the Shannon of 2022, as last year’s event was postponed until February. Details for competing rowers can be found HERE.

Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels on the Lower Bann navigation that infrastructure maintenance works at Carnroe Lock, south of Coleraine in Northern Ireland, are under way as of Thursday 1 December and are expected to continue until March 2023.

These works will necessitate the closure of the lock and therefore navigation through Carnroe Lock will not be possible during this period, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways says.

Waterways Ireland advises users of the Royal Canal in West Dublin that the towpath between Pakenham Bridge and Collins Bridge, north and southwest of Westmanstown Golf Club respectively, will be closed to public use from this Friday 2 December until Wednesday 21 December in order to facilitate bank maintenance works in the area.

Waterways Ireland advises users of the Royal Canal in Dublin’s north inner city of works on Lock 4 between Mountjoy and Whitworth Road from Tuesday 29 November.

Over the next six weeks these works will comprise replacement of the middle lock gates in this double-chamber lock and associated works.

No navigation passage will be possible in the canal at this time, but the adjacent towpaths will remain open for pedestrians and other users, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways adds.

Waterways Ireland advises users of the Grand Canal Greenway that the section from Digby Bridge to Sallins in Co Kildare will be closed from Monday 28 November to Tuesday 20 December in order to facilitate the restoration of the Four Pots overflow structure.

The Four Pots is a unique overflow structure located alongside the Grand Canal towpath between the Leinster Aqueduct and Digby Bridge, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways says.

No longer in use, this ingenious overflow system has four circular channels of varying depth that helped reduce the water pressure and volume rate before discharge from the canal back to the River Liffey through a series of channels.

Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels in Monasterevin’s Bell Harbour and all masters of vessels and users of the Grand Canal’s Barrow Line that water levels in the canal will be reduced by approximately 600mm between the 24th Lock at Ballykelly and the 25th Lock in Monasterevin for essential bank repair works.

Reduction of levels will commence at 9am on Monday 28th November and will last until Friday 2 December, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways adds.