Hi Folks,

We have a meeting with WI next Monady (16th Jan) so, if possible, we'd like to have a few boat numbers for them. So far, we have 13 boats already on their way round the G&S. 3 more committed to doing the round trip and enquiries from 14 others. Of these, 4 M,B,E,Tjalk boats are committed and 4 others are "considering". Could anyone who's interested please let me know by the weekend, either on here, to dublin @ iwai.ie or direct to meself at 31B at iwai dot ie. Between us who did it last year, we found most of the issues, sorted a few out ourselves and in fairness to WI, they're working on the rest of them. Go on folks...go for it...!!

Mick Farrell
PRO
Dublin Branch



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 10/01/2012 18:55 by Mick Farrell.

Hi Mick,

We are now back in Zaandam, but we are planning to do the G&S with Duiske. Our plan is to arrive in Dublin at the same time as the rally in order to get through the Effin bridge. Therefore we will base our timing on that. Also planning to do the same is Ricky Little in Alice O. Please keep us informed so that we can book flights etc.

Mike & Rosaleen Miller
Aquarelle
Zaandam
NL

Great stuff Mike. Can you drop me an e-mail to dublin @ iwai.ie . We'll be setting up a mailing list in the next couple of weeks for those we know coming to Dublin and I'll need your addresses to include you both.

Good to see yis at the Effin Bridge gig..!!

Mick F



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 12/01/2012 20:34 by Michael Slevin.

Ok Folks,

As of 17.00 this evening we have.....

15, boats already en route.
16, confirmed "intending to do".
07, enquiring or thinking about it.

38 Total......(WI, take note)

A good start...!!

Mick Farrell
PRO
Dublin Branch

Mick

Count us in for a move west on the Royal,

Provided the bridge opens of course!!

Greg Whelan
President IWAI

Ahhhh.....Good one Greg......which year...??....LOL

Mick F

Just for anyone considering doing the Dublin Rally, the provisional plan for getting boats in and out is below. As always, some things might change between now and May, but if so, we will let yis know.

Mick Farrell
PRO
Dublin Branch

Dublin Rally, planned movements into and out from.

Royal Canal Inbound
All boats MUST be at Castleknock, L12 on Friday evening the 4th of May.

Sat 5th May. Boats move down from Castleknock, L 12 to Phibsboro, L 5. There will be an overnight and an event with locals (Phizzfest) here.
Sun 6th May. Boats move from L 5 to Spencer Dock to overnight.
Mon 7th May Boats cross Liffey from Spencer Dock to Grand Canal Basin.

Royal Canal Outbound
Sat 2nd June Boats cross Liffey from GCD to Spencer Dock to overnight.
Sun 3rd June Boats move from Spencer Dock to Castleknock, L12.
Mon 4th June Boats may head further west or not as decided by skippers.

Grand Canal Inbound
All boats MUST be at Lucan Road, L12 on Friday evening the 11th of May.

Sat 12th May. Boats move from below L 12 to GCD.

Grand Canal outbound

Thur 24th May. Boats move from GCD to Mespil Road, L C4.
Fri 25th May. Boats move from Mespil Road to Portobello, L C7.
Sat 26th May. Boats head out past L 12 to Hazelhatch.

Hi All,

An update for the above following our Branch meeting this evening.

45 boats now on the list for the 2 events. Most also doing Green and Silver Route in conjunction. 2 boats so far, doing all 3. WI have confirmed bridge lift dates with CIE.

Dublin Rally

We've been asked to participate in a new 1 day festival in Ashtown (Lock 10, Royal) on Saturday 28th April. We're therefore asking all boats, who expect to be in Castleknock before this date, to attend. It's a short journey, 1.5 miles with 3 double locks, from Castleknock down to Ashtown and it has great potential to become a "safe" mooring. 31B and Fionnuisce overnighted here last June and there were absolutely no issues, not even noise. The restaurant beside the harbour seem very keen to welcome boats and boaters. Anyone concerned about leaving their boat here unattended for the week can head back up to Castleknock on Sunday as we know that a 58 foot boat can turn here. Getting involved with local community groups and their events is probably the most effective way of creating a safe, useable urban canal, so we would urge anyone who can to bring their boats along.

Phizzfest orginisers have confirmed their interest in having an event for boats heading into Dublin for the Rally around Shandon Gdns/Lock 5 on Saturday 5th May. Details have yet to be worked out, but a great afternoon and evening was had here on the journey into Dublin last year. Again, getting involved with local events, has resulted in what was a long hard days work, becoming 2 handy days with a bit of craic in between....!!

Tall Ships

Early days yet, but we now have 4 x 60 footers, including RCAG boat, Float No.3, likely to be heading for Dublin for the Tall Ships Event. We're considering basing our event in Spencer Dock rather than GCD as it's likely to result in more exposure for the Association and Dublin Branch during the event. Boats heading back out the Royal via the bridge lift on 1st of September, will essentially be participating in Phizzfest, which runs from 1st September to 9th September this year, if only as an example of how locks operate. Float No. 3 is already "booked" as a venue for certain events during the festival and the organisers would be delighted to see other boats stopping in the Phibsboro area for the full length of the festival. Again, an "Award Winning" community event, with which we've had excellent contacts in the past, which has allowed us to introduce so many people to boating on the Royal. This is likely to become a mini-rally...!!

Mick Farrell,
PRO
Dublin Branch.

Mick

Well done, great to see some activity happening on the the Northside!!

Greg Whelan
President IWAI

In this case, Greg, I'm only reporting the news, not making it. In another recent "Northside" event, Dublin Branch's Mick Kinahan attended the Aras with Phizzfest's [www.phizzfest.ie] Eamon O' Ceallaigh, to help carry home an "Epic Award" which was presented by Michael D. Protocol dictates that all conversations be given due privacy but I am assured that matters of a "Grave" nature were discussed.

Mick Farrell
PRO
Dublin Branch.

PS....Michael K would follow Michael D, alphabetically. You dont think he might be sussing out a new job now that he's retired from the Corpo....??

Eamon O'C, Michael D, Michael K






Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 09/02/2012 17:58 by Michael Slevin.

Ah lads, a southsider representing the northside!!!! What is is the world coming to.

As for the big job in the park, I am sure he would be well able for it, he could even wear his old medals.

Greg Whelan
President IWAI

Quote:

Gregory Whelan
Mick
Count us in for a move west on the Royal,

Provided the bridge opens of course!!

Are you able to move? I thought you had broken down and were stuck in GCD?

Peter
The breakdown was the bridge, we are ready to go!!!!

Greg

Congratulations to Dick Warner who, on Friday, became the first to complete the Green & Silver route this year. He wrote on the IWIUG channel that

"At 18.20 hours on Friday April 13th 'Elsewhere' made landfall in 
Lowtown and completed her Green and Silver. There were a lot 
of set-backs along the way, including a complete engine re-build, 
and it took eleven months, one week and six days. But there is 
definitely a strong sense of satisfaction from achieving something 
I've looked forward to for many years. 
Thanks to all who helped. 
Dick Warner."

We have you tentatively down as no 33 to complete the journey. The problems with the summit level on the Royal have already put paid to the plans of more than a few.

Saturday saw an Effin Bridge lift at Spencer Dock with 3 boats coming into the city (Hawthorn, 4E and Snark), and 4 heading west (ISCA narrowboat, Lady Merle, Little Eden and Dubhlinn). Some photos from the day can be found at [dublin.iwai.ie]

Michael



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 15/04/2012 23:51 by Michael Slevin.

Well done to Giles and Jill on MB Hawthorn who completed their Green and Silver at approx 10.15 this morning, passing Soldiers Island. Subject to confirmation, they're 2nd to complete this year, number 34 on the roll and, due to the Royal Summit issues, probably the 1st to do an unintended Green and Silver.

Mick Farrell
PRO
Dublin Branch

Thanks Mick,

For the record:

Hawthorn left Naas on the Grand Canal in the first week of November 2011.

Spent December to March up and down between Tullamore and Shannon Harbour.

Arrived on the Royal 2nd March. Went to Confey, returned west to Furey's pub. Turned east again on Sunday 8th April. Arrived GCD Saturday 14th April. Passed the Naas line on Tuesday 17th.

Thanks to all the Dublin crew who made getting in and out such a pleasure.

At times there was a little stress, but then a lock-keeper would arrive with his van to remind me what it was all about.

Giles.

Congratulations to Mick Mc Cullagh and Trish O'Grady on Sceil Eile who also finished their Green and Silver yesterday (or possibly on Monday in Lowtown...!!!) Might need a Stewards Enquiry on this one....!!
Anyway, Sceil Eile and Hawthorn passed each other around Lock 18 sometime yesterday...!!

Mick Farrell
PRO
Dublin Branch

"Not sure of the dates but last year we left Hazelhatch to go into Dublin for the '11 Dublin rally ( Mick i'm hoping you will know the date), at 4.30 17th April 2012 we returned to Hazelhatch and completed the Green and Silver. en route we managed to take a detour to St Mullins on the Barrow (thanks to the Effin bridge), winter at Confey io the Royal, break down and abandon Sceal Eile in the middle of Lough Ree and get locked into a section of the Grand Canal for 3 days. Well worth the effort but despite taking a year to complete it felt a bit rushed at times.


Mick

Sceal Eile"

Ehhhh....Following the "Stewards Enquiry", Scale Eile has been bumped up for completing in Lowtown at 8 PM on Monday the 16th of April. Fiercely competitive, these Green and Silver boyo's ....!!

Mick Farrell
PRO
Dublin Branch