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Topic Meelick Back Cut Posted by colin_becker1
Greetings, I'm wondering can anyone help me with a small but important gap in my knowledge of the Shannon system. (There's lots of other gaps but this is one I need to fill just now) At Meelick, Omer originally built the navigation in the old canal through what became Hamilton Lock. And then in the 1840s Rhodes moved the navigation into a new cut and built Victoria lock and installed the weir that is now south of Meelick Quay. And then sometime in the 1880s as far as I can figure out, under the Allport Commission they opened up the "back channel" between Omers cut and the current navigation channel. Thats the one with the narrow bridge over it to get to Victoria Lock. At the same time I think they installed the sluices at Meelick Weir. What I'm trying to find out is whether they also installed a weir and sluices somewhere in the back channel and if so are they still there and can you get at them by road. I'm guessing if they were there they would have to be somewhere near Marlborough Bridge. If I can get at them I'll go up and take a photo at the weekend. Best Wishes, Colin Becker GMY Chang Sha
Hi Colin, Yes, there is a weir, but I think it is quite a distance north of the bridge, closer to the start of Omer's canal. I don't know how accessible it is by road or water. I think there's an aerial photo of the area in Kevin Dwyer's book. Let us know if you manage to reach it! Regards, Conor. [www.iol.ie]
Hi Colin, Can't provide much info myself I am afraid, but I do know that the Derg branch did a mini-CIC last year to Meelick and quite a few travelled up that cut by Dingy so they might be able to cast some light on it for you. Amongs others I know that Andy, Gerry and Fergal made the journey, so hopefully some of these may be in a position to assist. I was in "Dry CIC" mode at the time and found that travelling across the narrow road bridge by car provided quiet enough exitement for one weekend..........! Richard & Mags "REFLECTION"
Conor has revealed all. If I'm reading the map and picture right, where the sluices are is probably part of the old river channel around Inchekery island. I think that channel originally went into the main river again just north of the new navigation cut and that was blocked off at some point and then they diverted it down the new cut east of the current navigation channel to take some of the pressure of Meelick Weir. Colin
colin_becker1 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Seems unlikely that even G (I'll get that barge in > there if it kills me) > Burke could have gotten a barge up there. > dark ! > > Colin eeeehh.... I did say "dingy" trip ! ! ! ! I am sure G would not like to think that 68M could be mistaken for a Dingy ! ! ! R Richard & Mags "REFLECTION"
Hi Colin. Don't know if these are any use OceanFroggie
Thanks Froggie, I think we've got it sussed. The sluices appear to be at the feature referred to as Marlborough Bridge on the OS map Sheet 53 GR 962 144 or about 1.5km east and a smidgen north of Meelick Quay as the crow flies. The next mystery was when they were built but I think reading between the lines in Auntie Ruth's book we can conclude they date from the time of the Allport Commission in the 1880s. I will investigate at the weekend and report back. Colin
Here is a website we set up in our office while preparing a survey. (jcost were our IT consultants) www.jcost.ie/viewshannon It wasn't designed for mass consumption so may not react well if you all log on together. You can search by county, type, townland or name. If you leave all boxes blank you willl get all records. If you press google earth you will get a flag for each record, but that will take about a minute. Reports of errors or omissions gratefully received, preferably in private, to 6yewpoint@gmail.com Garrett
Hi Jimmy, yes, the oracle has been consulted. Went there on Saturday and took this photo of the sluices. They went in in the 1880s at the same time as the sluices on the main weir. They were modified again in the late 1920s to improve throughput in flood conditions. Technically the main weir (i.e. the one you see from the navigation) is called "Keelogue" and the weir on the back channel about 2km away is called "Meelick". But thats just by the way ! Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum. Online UsersGuests:
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