Hey, Joe I'll have to get both your own and Ben's autograph next time we meet. Great to see your names on the credits. The production quality and content is excellent, well edited with a lot packed in, yet never seemed rushed, more relaxing. The "nose in" must have registered in the national seismographic station! Gerry thought me when handling 68M coming up the Abbey "slow, slow, slow with these heavy beauties". It takes a lot of time to slow and for them to react. Keeping that in makes the program all the more real. Well done all again on a superb outcome.

OceanFroggie

Just to clear up a bit of confusion, the five Waterways series are, not
necessarily in the right order because it was a long time ago, 45M from
Dublin Docks to the Abbey River in Limerick, Schollevaar (Dutch barge
yacht, not under sail at that time) from Ballinasloe (not on the
navigation at that time so the first few miles in a Shannon cot) to
Boyle, the Charles Whitton, a converted sail and oar powered rescue
lifeboat, from Robertstown to Dunmore East and Oxlip, a reproduction
Edwardian steam launch, from Leitrim Village (I think) to Belleek.
There were then eighteen programmes of Voyage, a slow circumnavigation
of Ireland in the Rinn Voyager, a steel ketch. The fifth Waterways
series travels from Dublin Docks to a point just south of Lanesborough.
These total forty-eight commercial half-hours of television about
boats. Dick.

Dick - thanks for clarifying

So, there are 4 previous Inland Voyages and 1 around the Coast.

Who directed and produced them? Are they all now owned by the same organisation?

If we knew the details, perhaps we could instigate through this forum, requests to the organisations for their release to DVD.

Have heard all sorts of people extolling about them, many non-boaters, so they have wide appeal. There has to be a market for their re-release. Would love to see them all (was wandering when they were originally broadcast).

Beth
Aqualegia

From Tonights Evening Herald
" There's no high-octane action in Waterways: The Royal Canal, just the immensely soothing and satisfying sight of Dick Warner cruising through Dublin on Rambler, a barge which, as he put it, is "even older than I am". It dates from 1878, when it was a cargo tug on the canal.

Apart from the stunning photography, the best thing about this new series -- Warner's first for some years -- is his witty, self-deprecating commentary, which remains as dry as a cream cracker no matter how wet everything else gets.

Warner made a similar journey along the Grand Canal in 1992.

Rambler, however, is too wide and unwieldy a boat to fit through the narrow Grand, which is why he's piloting it along the newly reopened Royal. Pleasurable as it is to watch, it's no pleasure cruise for Warner and his crew. Every bridge and lock presents a challenge, due to reed, rubbish and fallen masonry clogging the water.

Warner started his journey in Sheriff Street, passing under "the Effin' Bridge", which is what people in the old days nicknamed it when it failed to open. He met Ulick O'Connor, who talked about Brendan Behan, cycled to Mountjoy Prison to see Behan's Auld Triangle (the title of this opening instalment), sought out the graves of Michael Collins and Kitty Kiernan in Glasnevin Cemetery, and went fly-fishing in Finglas with his old pal, marine biologist Ken Whelan.

At Hamilton Bridge, named after William Rowan Hamilton, the scientist who scrawled a mathematical equation into its stones, Warner said that Ireland was once a world leader in the production of scientific instruments.

Surveying the surrounding concrete landscape, he added: "In the 21st century, we became world leaders in something else: building apartments with borrowed money. A delight"

Ahh the old days - it only seems like June!!

Well done Dick and both crews (film and barge)

Greg Whelan
President IWAI

"people in the old days" is that what they call PJ now ? and he's younger than Les you know

AJ

Great bit of TV viewing,I could have watched it all night.

That poor reporter hasn't done his research. We all know Rambler doesn't fit An Chanal Mór.

Andy J,Of course I remember the good old days. They were five years ago. I do confess to seeing Mr John Cash and Mr Dylan in concert in 1966. I also saw Dave,Dee ,Dozey,Beaky ,Mick and Titch. Then there was Der Troggs with Wild Thing. Oh Yes,I remember the old days. [ and all the songs]

pJn

Hi Beth,
I wish I could answer all your questions. I know you're
right and that there are a lot of people in Ireland and round the world
who would like DVDs of the old stuff --- this is not just ego from me,
it's based on hundreds of emails I've received. But I can't seem to get
them released. Perhaps a concerted email campaign to stephen[AG]tile
films.ie might break the log-jam. Thank you for your positive
response. Dick.

Hi Dick.

Great programme last night.
I sent an e mail to tile films .

John .

Hi All,

I've noticed a number of visits to my original Rambler post of a few months ago...

I have done a tribute to the airing of the first program over on the blog, including a handfull of photo's of the stars and film crew...

Thanks again for your support,
Vossie aka AJ

[ouchmybackhurts.wordpress.com]

Rats ! Its gone off the RTE Site. Somebody up there doesn't like you Dick

Paul Mc Cann

On 4 October 2011 07:12, IWAI forum AJ Vosse wrote:

> Posted at: [www.iwai.ie]
> AJ Vosse wrote:
>
> Hi All,
>
> I've noticed a number of visits to my original Rambler post of a few months
> ago...
>
> I have done a tribute to the airing of the first program over on the blog,
> including a handfull of photo's of the stars and film crew...
>
> Thanks again for your support,
> Vossie aka AJ
>
> [ouchmybackhurts.wordpress.com]
>

Reply Quote

Whoops got that wrong. If you go on the website, click Categories on the
menu bar across the top, and then click on Factual, there it is. I was a bit
miffed because I had recommended the programme to some friends and they said
they couldn't find it.

Paul Mc Cann

On 4 October 2011 09:48, Paul Mc Cann wrote:

> Rats ! Its gone off the RTE Site. Somebody up there doesn't like you Dick
>
> Paul Mc Cann
>
>
> On 4 October 2011 07:12, IWAI forum AJ Vosse wrote:
>
>> Posted at: [www.iwai.ie]
>> AJ Vosse wrote:
>>
>> Hi All,
>>
>> I've noticed a number of visits to my original Rambler post of a few
>> months ago...
>>
>> I have done a tribute to the airing of the first program over on the blog,
>> including a handfull of photo's of the stars and film crew...
>>
>> Thanks again for your support,
>> Vossie aka AJ
>>
>> [ouchmybackhurts.wordpress.com]
>

Reply Quote

We got a good slot but this meant we had tough opposition, including X
Factor. Despite this 358,000 people watched the first episode, which is
considered high. Now imagine if they all decided to join the IWAI! Dick.

Dick, May I congratulate you on a wonderful programme. The word I would use
is beautiful.
I shall write to RTE saying how terrific it is.
Looking forward to the next episode.
Jackie.




On 4 October 2011 18:42, Dick Warner wrote:

> We got a good slot but this meant we had tough opposition, including X
> Factor. Despite this 358,000 people watched the first episode, which is
> considered high. Now imagine if they all decided to join the IWAI! Dick.
>

Reply Quote

Never mind ALL, Dick......1% would double the current membership....!!! Well done again to all concerned.

M(W&W)F

Is it too late to include a mention in one, or more, episodes?
I know the film footage is finished, but what about the voice-over?
Just a thought...

Duncan

Duncan, there is still a little voice-over to be written and I gather
you're suggesting I incorporate a plug for IWAI membership into this.
That could be a little dodgy --- there are rather strict guidelines.
But if IWAI wanted to buy a 15 second commercial slot I'd be more than
happy to voice it for free. Dick.

Hi Dick,
Like the other acolytes, I too thoroughly enjoyed the programme. Congrats to all involved, and in the case of any film/programme, "ALL" is a lot of people as the credits show. Superb stuff all round - and just the tonic for those weaned on the earlier waterways series. My phone was hopping with texts telling me to watch it, from people I wouldn't normally suspect of being interested in watching a programme about boating on the canals of Ireland.

Just as many of of us were seduced by your earlier series and somehow or other managed to translate that interest into something more tangible, I suspect that we'll see this latest programme translate into increased interest in the waterways and in old boats/barges etc. Prices are probably nudging upwards on Apolloduck as we speak. Hats off again to yourself, the Connons, the production crew and all who helped to make this new series a reality. Per an earlier mention on the "Effin" bridge thread, the juxtaposition of the modern day "Rambler" film and the Heard archive film of the Hark's 1955 voyage worked really well - its a true joy to see archive footage of people and places we think we know pretty well.

Now ... is there any truth in the rumour that the the lads and lasses in the OSI are annotating the maps as we speak to incorporate the "Effin" bridge? Wouldn't that be wonderful?

Beir Bua,
Michael

Michael

I wholeheartedly agree with your comments and sentiments, hopefully it will bring more people on to the canals.

Now does anybody know what "Effin" is in Irish I just need it for a work project?

Greg Whelan

Hmmmm....what about "Éffin" or "Droichead na hÉffin". If it does'nt
already exist, you can just make them up it seems....i.e. Tacsaí or O'
Cuiv.....!

M(W&W)F