#underwaterobstruction – Waterways Ireland is advising Masters and owners of vessels that there is an underwater obstruction in the Grand Canal at Sallins adjacent to the newly constructed extended mooring berths West of Sallin's Bridge.

Master's of vessels should navigate with caution until clear of the obstruction. 

Waterways Ireland says it apologises to its customers for this inconvenience.

#InlandWaters - The Grand Canal towpath in Dublin between the 3rd Lock in Inchicore to the 12th Lock in Lucan will be closed temporarily in various locations for different durations this spring.

The first of these closures are this week, with part of Section 3, between Park West Avenue and Ninth Lock Road, closed till this Friday 16 January, and Section 4 (Ninth Lock Road to the R120 at Adamstown) closed till Friday 30 January.

ESB Networks will be carrying out essential works on the electricity network until March 2015 on this route between the Naas Road and Grange Castle so check the South Dublin County Council website for the latest news.

_{#inlandwaterways – When English writer LTC Rolt made a round trip from the Shannon to Dublin in 1946, traversing the Grand and Royal Canals, he was considered an eccentric. In the 1940s commercial traffic on the canals and rivers of Ireland had dwindled to almost nothing. Rolt's notion that these waterways could be a source of joy to leisure boaters was considered pure whimsy. But it was the book Rolt published after this trip, Green and Silver, that was to act as inspiration for the formation of the Inland Waterways Association of Ireland (IWAI) in 1954.}

There were other catalysts, too, that fired up the Association. The swing bridge at Athlone was to be replaced with a fixed span. The Royal Canal had already fallen into disrepair and was closed to navigation. Dublin Corporation proposed to lay a sewer along the Grand Canal and fill it in to make a road. The IWAI determined to oppose the authorities in their attempts to impede and close the network of waterways.

IWAI and the Waterways of Ireland is a celebration of sixty years of the Association doing just that. It begins with a rattle through the waterways themselves – the many rivers, lakes and canals. A short history of the IWAI follows, interesting as much for the names listed at the inaugural meeting as for what was achieved. Two of these were Colonel Harry Rice, retired from the British Army, and Sean McBride, dedicated Republican, politician and Nobel prize winner. Brian Cassells, writer and compiler of this book, comments 'I smile when I think of a dedicated Republican being best friends with a retired Colonel of the British Army.'

This fact says much about the compelling charm of boating in Ireland – it is a great social leveller. The portraits of people include George O'Brien Kennedy, boat designer; Syd Shine, showband leader; Rosemary Furlong, RNLI fundraiser; Jim McGarry, skipper. A diversity of people who were passionate about the rivers and canals, the boats and buildings.

The backbone of the IWAI remains the branches, and these are covered in full. It is the reasons for their creation, and the progress made, that make these descriptions come alive. How local opinion in Kenagh on the Royal Canal was certain it would never be re-opened (it was). Volunteers working on the Lagan Navigation clocking up 11,000 hours to restore Ireland's only flight of four locks. Coalisland branch members who possessed not a boat between them, dedicated to saving their canalside heritage.

The IWAI still has a campaigning role. There are notable successes in the book, given their own special pages – Ram's Island on Lough Neagh, the Royal Canal, and the Boyne Navigation. There is hope for the restoration of the Ulster Canal.

Brian Cassells has put together a book of immense charm, lusciously produced, rich in photographs. There is some repetition of facts, perhaps inevitable in a book with many different contributors. Nonetheless it is a valuable record of, and insight into, an organisation which has been instrumental in safeguarding a network of waterways that is among the most beautiful in Europe.

#InlandWaters - Waterways Ireland has confirmed that the construction project to develop houseboat mooring facilities for the Grand Canal in Sallins, Co Kildare has now recommenced on site. 

It's now advised that as a consequence of the delay, which Waterways Ireland assures was unforeseen, the contract will now be completed in August. 

Waterways Ireland says it "will ensure that the previous contractual difficulties do not result in any reduction in the quality or standard of the completed project. 

"Waterways Ireland apologies to customers, residents and local businesses for any inconvenience caused by the unforeseen delay to the contract."

For further information please see Waterways Ireland's current Waterway Work Programmes.

Enquiries relating to the Sallins Houseboat Facility project are directed Waterways Ireland's on-site representative at 087 990 1935.

#Angling - The National Coarse Fishing Federation of Ireland (NCFFI) will host its annual Senior Canals Championship on the Grand Canal at Daingean, Co Offaly in two weekend's time on Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 May, just before the bank holiday.

Sponsored by Waterways Ireland, the championship and the biggest canal angling event of the year, attracting participants from all over the country and the UK who will be welcoming the warming inland waters with eager anticipation of some fantastic catches.

For more information see the NCFFI Facebook page HERE.

In other news, the River Erne in Enniskillen will be the venue for Waterways Ireland's Junior Angling Classic series, running over three successive Saturdays from 26 April.

Organised by the Erne Anglers Club in partnership with Waterways Ireland, NI's Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure and Fermanagh District Council, the series gives ing children aged 11 to 19 the change to test their mettle in competitive angling.

Fishing in Ireland has more details about the initiative HERE.

#grandcanal – Waterways Ireland advises owners and masters that due to essential electrical and mechanical maintenance the Sea Lock at Ringsend (Buckingham Lock) is closed to navigation until further notice. This will prevent boat passage between Grand Canal Basin and the River Liffey whilst maintenance works are ongoing.

As works progress it may be possible to make passage by prior arrangement, but this will be entirely dependent on the stage of works. If wishing to make arrangement please contact the Dock Superintendent, Mark Clarke, on 087 258 4713, who will be able to advise accordingly.

#grandcanal – Waterways Ireland wishes to advise masters and owners that boat passages in or out of Dublin on the Grand Canal Main Line between Locks 1 & 12 should generally be undertaken as a single movement in one day.

A minimum of two working days' prior notice of intended travel is requested to be given to the Waterways Ireland Eastern Regional Office, to facilitate the necessary staffing assistance arrangements. To allow time for passage boats will only be permitted entry before 9:00am at either the Lock 1 or Lock 12 depending on direction of travel. This may be earlier depending on the number of boats making passage.

Please also ensure you have the following before making passage:

-adequate fuel on board
-competent and adequate crew to operate the boat and locks
(minimum crew of 3)
-a lock key on board your boat
-mooring lines of adequate length to handle vessel through a lock
(approx 15m length)
-no known mechanical problems with your boat

Boats will not be permitted to travel the system if their passage is considered to be unsafe by Waterways Ireland and / or if they do not have the appropriate permit.

Relevant Contact Details for Waterways Ireland, Grand Canal, Dublin:

Waterways Ireland Eastern Regional Office (M-F 9.30am-4.30pm)
01-868-0148

Dock Superintendent, Ringsend
Mark Clarke 087-2584713

Lock-keeper, Locks C1 to C7, Circular Line
Stephen Brierley 086-3805657

Lock-keeper, Locks 1 - 6, Main Line
Ray Moore 086-8278025

Lock-keeper, Locks 7 - 11, Main Line
John O'Brien 087-2683723

Lock-keeper, Locks 12 - 13, Main Line
Ray Moore As above

#byelaws – Waterways Ireland invites people and organisations affected by the changes to the Draft Canals Act, 1986(Amendment) Bye-Laws, 2014 to make submissions to Waterways Ireland before the 3rd February 2014.

All the documents are available online and can be viewed by arrangement in Waterways Ireland offices in Enniskillen and Dublin. Submissions can be made online, by email, by post and by visiting Waterways Ireland offices.
Submissions are being sought on changes to the Bye-Laws on the Grand Canal, Royal Canal and Barrow Navigation. The Draft Canals Act, 1986(Amendment), Bye-Laws, 2014 includes a new management framework which will be used to manage continuous cruising, houseboats, dry dock facilities as well as key location & serviced mooring usage. The amendments also include changes to mooring times, charges and the introduction of a fixed penalty notice.
Waterways Ireland will consult with the groups representing the views of people affected by statutory equality regulations such as disability or age based groups. In addition Waterways Ireland will be holding meetings with groups where their members will be affected by the changes to the Bye-Laws. Letters have also been issued to all permit holders on the navigations affected by the Bye-Law changes informing them of the public consultation and the availability of the documentation.
The period for submissions is set by the Section 7(1) of the Canals Act, 1986 (No.3 of 1986) as amended by section 56 of the Maritime Safety Act, 2005 (No. 11 of 2005). The deadline for submissions is the 3rd February 2014. Documentation is available from www.waterwaysireland.org/Public-Consultation or from Waterways Ireland offices as listed.