A live-aboard boat owner had a lucky escape after an explosion on his vessel at Hazelhatch on the Grand Canal on Saturday morning (28 August).

It’s reported on social media that the owner was trapped on his boat until the side blew out as the fire was blocking the only exit.

The man is said to be recovering with family after suffering burns to his face and experiencing shock.

Low water levels continue to be experienced on the Grand Canal’s Main Line and Barrow Line as well as on the Royal Canal, Waterways Ireland has warned.

Some levels are currently 450mm down on normal levels, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways says, as the sources that supply water to the navigations have been affected by the recent warm and dry spell as well as unfavourable rainfall patterns.

Masters of vessels are advised to proceed with additional caution and to contact the relevant water patroller for latest advice and assistance.

Waterways Ireland has issued a number of updates for inland waterways users on the Erne System, Grand and Royal Canals and Barrow Navigation.

On the Erne System, the Galloon Bridge refurbishment project southwest of Newtownbutler will commence next Monday 23 August.

Vessels will not be permitted to navigate under the bridge at Galloon due to these works, which are expected to continue for 16 weeks.

In addition, the Carrybridge jetty and slipway will be closed for five days from Monday 23 to Friday 27 August for the realignment of jetty fingers. The electrical supply to bollards and pump-out will be turned off during this period.

On the Grand Canal, low water levels are being experienced on both the main line and Barrow Line, which are currently 300mm down on normal levels.

Masters of vessels are advised to proceed with additional caution and to contact the relevant water patroller for latest advice and assistance.

On the Royal Canal, canoe polo events will take place in the Kilcock Harbour area this Friday 20 August.

Waterways Ireland requests that the polo pitch areas and harbour be kept clear of all vessels to facilitate the events, and that masters of vessels comply with instructions from marshals.

Meanwhile, on the Barrow Navigation masters and owners are advised that Clashganny Lock is now fully operational following its temporary closure for essential repairs.

Waterways Ireland advises masters and owners of vessels that low water levels are being experienced throughout the Grand Canal. This follows a recent advisory over low waters on the 26th level of the Barrow Line.

Masters of vessels are advised to proceed with additional caution along the inland waterway and to contact the relevant water patroller for latest advice and assistance.

Waterways Ireland advises masters and owners of vessels that low water levels are being experienced on the 26th level (Long Level) of the Grand Canal’s Barrow Line.

As of Friday 30 July, water levels are down 400mm from expected levels. As a result, masters of vessels are advised to proceed with additional caution and to contact the water patroller (Joe Moore at 087 247 3093) for latest advice and assistance.

Waterways Ireland advises that the towpath on the Grand Canal between Park West and the 9th Lock Road in Clondalkin, West Dublin will be closed from tomorrow, Monday 5 July until Friday 16 July to facilitate essential works on behalf of the ESB by contractor KLM Utilities. Detours will be in place on the route.

Artists from Poland and Ireland have created a new mural on the banks of the Grand Canal in Portobello that celebrates Irish-Polish relations is part of the PolskaÉire Festival 2021.

Dublin Lord Mayor Hazel Chu and Polish Ambassador to Ireland Anna Sochańska officially launched the mural, created by Aga Grandowicz and Una Woods, in a ceremony yesterday morning (Wednesday 23 June).

The project is the initiative of the Embassy of Poland in Dublin, in celebration of 30 years of the embassy’s existence, in partnership with Waterways Ireland and Dublin City Council.

Lord Mayor Chu said: “I am delighted to launch this mural as a sign of Irish-Polish connection both in the city of Dublin but also in all the corners of Ireland. Let it be a reminder that the ties between the Polish community and the Irish people stay strong and will remain so in the years to come.

“Over the last 15 years we have welcomed over 100 thousand Polish people here in Ireland. During that time they have contributed significantly to the prosperity and cultural diversity of our country — for this we say thank you.

“I am sure that the local community of Portobello also greatly appreciates this new addition to the landscape. This mural radiates such positive energy and vibrancy that it will lift anyone’s spirits.”

Ambassador Sochańska added: “I am honoured to celebrate Irish-Polish relations in the form of this uplifting, colourful mural inspired by Irish and Polish folk art.

“The Irish shamrock and the Polish floral motif from folk paper cutouts perfectly symbolise the two cultures and how they interlink. The two birds, the starling and the robin, taking centre stage of the design, relate so well to the two countries’ natural heritage.”

The Grand Canal Greenway will be extended from the 12th Lock in Lucan to Hazelhatch Bridge after Transport Minister Eamon Ryan allocated an additional €1.4 million to South Dublin County Council for the completion of the works by 2022.

The funding forms part of the Department of Transport’s Greenway Programme worth €63.5 million, the highest single year amount ever allocated to this type of infrastructure.

Minister Ryan said: “I am delighted to allocate €1.4m towards the extension of the Grand Canal Greenway from the 12th Lock to Hazelhatch Bridge.

“This key 4km section will provide safe segregated access to people working in Grange Castle Business Park as well as those living in Hazelhatch, Celbridge and the surrounding areas.

“This project is a great example of the role that greenways are playing in providing safe and enjoyable access to schools and workplaces as well as opportunities for leisure and tourism.

When completed, the works “will enable people to walk and cycle from Inchicore to Hazelhatch Bridge, and later in 2023 as far as Sallins in Co Kildare”.

The minister added that additional funding was already provided to Offaly County Council in 2020 to extend the Grand Canal Greenway from Daingean to Edenderry.

“By the end of 2023 we will have nearly 70 kilometres of greenway completed alongside the canal in South Dublin, Kildare and Offaly,” he said.

“Funding is also in place to develop a future route between the Grand and Royal canals which South Dublin and Fingal County Councils are working to progress over the coming years.”

This project will be co-funded by South Dublin County Council to a total of €2.1 million.

Waterways Ireland has issued an update for masters and owners regarding boat passage arrangements in or out of Dublin on the Grand and Royal canals in 2021.

Movements in or out of the city will continue to be organised by prior arrangement to take place as a single movement in one day.

Boaters will be facilitated to travel the system if their passage is considered to be safe by Waterways Ireland and they have the valid permit(s) for mooring and passage.

In order to plan the necessary lock assistance for movements east of Lock 12 on either canal, masters are required to contact the Waterways Ireland Eastern Regional Office by email [email protected] or 01 868 0148 prior to making passage.

At time of making contact, masters are asked to provide the following details:

• Length, beam, water & air drafts of your craft (provide approximates if don't have exact dimensions)
• Phone/email contact details
• Permit number and expiry date of current canal permit

On the Grand Canal, a minimum of two days’ notice prior to planned passage must be given and, with the exception of pre-arranged events, a maximum of two boats per day will be taken through the locks, travelling either east or west. In certain circumstances, eg for slower or larger barges, the limit will be one boat per day.

Due to periodic anti-social activity along some of canal route into Dublin, boat passage will also not be possible in certain weather conditions and at weekends over the late spring and summer period. This can be planned for at time of making contact, and suitable arrangements for passage made.

On the Royal Canal, repairs and upgrades are ongoing to Spencer Dock Sea Lock so boat passage through here remains suspended at this time and no bridge lift dates have been set for Newcomen Lift Bridge. Should there be updates to this position, details of these will be advised in a separate notice.

Masters and owners are also reminded to ensure that they have the following before making the passage through the city locks on either of these inland waterways:

• Adequate fuel on board
• Competent and adequate crew to operate the boat and locks (minimum crew of three)
• A lock key on board their boat
• Mooring lines of adequate length to handle vessel through a lock (approx.15m length)
• No known mechanical problems with their boat

Waterways Ireland reserve the right to postpone passage to another day if all of these are not in place.

Passages can be arranged in this boating season from June until the end of October. Also note that aquatic weed is generally more prevalent as the season progresses which can hamper passage.

Boaters will be facilitated as far as practicable although Waterways Ireland cannot guarantee that passage will be possible on every planned date. Early contact will greatly assist planning and facilitate the making of the necessary arrangements.

Waterways Ireland advises masters and owners of vessels that due to technical difficulties, the lifting bridge on the Grand Canal’s Barrow Line at Monasterevin cannot currently be opened for navigation traffic.

Staff are working to put the bridge back in operation, and the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways says it hopes to issue an update by the coming weekend.