The Royal Canal

NOTE: The canal is was fully reopened in 2010

Articles and other items related to the Royal Canal:

Royal Canal Walk - the current state of the restoration Spring 2005 - article from IWN issue Spring 2005

Where can I live on a barge near Dublin? - Brian Goggin and John Thompson answer one of our most frequently asked questions.

A Royal Canal Linear Park is proposed between Amiens St. and the North Wall.  A competition was held in 2005, and a winner chosen.  For more information see here.

Canal Boating Made Simple - tips from Harry Sheehy

The IWN issue of Summer 2000 focused on the Canals of Dublin.  Articles included (all in )

• Royal Canal journey, article by  Ian Bath
• Restore the Royal, Padraig O Brolchain
• Inside the canals, Ruth Heard -  article on the history of the canal

Going Grand: equipping a cruiser, Brian J Goggin - An article from IWN Winter 2002 with practical advice on equipping a cruiser to tackle the Grand Canal (but obviously equally applies to the Royal).

Off the beaten track, Conor Nolan - an article on The Basin in Blessington Street, from IWN Autumn 2001

The Royal and the Shannon 1912, description of a journey by Fred Carr, George Shackleton and John Wigham Shackleton – Jim Doyle (extra hand) an article from IWN Autumn 2000

"Driving" on the Canal  - a collection of tips from old hands from IWN Spring 2003

See Brian J. Goggin's Royal Canal Trip report from 2000

Related Royal Canal Sites:

The Royal Canal Amenity Group has campaigned for the re-opening of the canal since its foundation in 1974

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Ireland's Royal Canal, 1789-2009, Ruth Delany & Ian Bath The Lilliput Press Ltd (15 Sep 2009), 256pp ISBN 1843511622 This is a significantly updated version of the 1992 book.
Guide to the Royal Canal, 6th edition, Waterways Ireland, 2010. You can see an on-line version of an earlier edition here
Delany, Ruth, Ireland's Royal Canal, Lilliput Press, 1992.
John Mulligan, "Following in the Footsteps of the Four Famous Flannerys", Jan 2007, The Connaught Telegraph. 1-906017-00-X For more about the book, see www.fourflannerys.com
Clarke, Peter, The Royal Canal - The complete story, Elo Publications, 1992.
Course Angling Guide to the Grand & Royal Canals, Duchas The Heritage Service and the Central Fisheries Board, 1998. You can purchase this book through IWAI.

General Boating Articles

GPS usage on the inland waterways - course by Noel Griffin - see also Dave McCabe's Shannon GPS charts.

Boat Electrics: Batteries, Part 1 of a 3. (from IWN Winter 2006)

PG's Tips: Winter Cruising. ,(from IWN Winter 2006)

The Joys of Springs - Richard Holbrook explains how to tie up your boat so that it remains where it should! - (from IWN Winter 2005)

See Grog's excellent animated knots website if you want some guidance on knots for boating and fishing.

Paul Garlands Tips on what to do when your boat's engine stops! (from IWN Summer 2005)

Baby on Board! - Aileen Flynn provides some insights and advice for folk considering taking small children boating (from IWN Spring 2003).

LPG on boats - article by Roger Lorenz part1, part2

Where can I live on a barge near Dublin? - Brian J Goggin and John Thompson answer one of our most frequently asked questions.

Bringing your boat to Ireland - A look at what's involved in bringing (in this case) a narrowboat over from the UK, and what to expect if you do.

Winterising Diesel Engines - Step by step guide to protecting boat diesel engines from the rigours of an Irish winter

Guidelines for the use of VHF radios - Licensing, technical and practical information about the use of VHF radio on the inland waterways

Putting a boat on the water: What do you have to do if you want to put a boat on the inland waterways?

The ISA/IWAI Certificate of Competency - for Motor Cruising on the the Irish Inland Waterways. Not mandatory (yet), but recommended for all boat skippers.

Metamorphosis: Terry & Jean Frew - The story of the metamorphosis of The Dolphin from an offshore 50-man lifeboat into a comfortable four-berth cabin-cruiser.

Téarmaí Bádóireachta  Boating terms as Gaeilge, le Seán Ó Riain

One day in July - an assembly of different accounts of what was happening on one ordinary summer's day July 14 2002, to give a picture of typical activity on our waterways ( from IWN Autumn 2002) .

The British Boat Safety Scheme, Tommy Murphy

Colm na Cora, the Garda patrol boat from IWN Summer 2002

The Shannon One Design (aka SOD), David Beattie, probably the most successful native one-design class of sailing boats in Ireland - from IWN Summer 2000

Health & Safety:

Weil's Disease (Leptospirosis) - article by Dr John Fleetwood, from IWN Spring 2002

Safety  - Fire, Water, Lifejackets and Carbon Monoxide, Flares. from IWN Spring 20003

See our guide to Buying a lifejacket in Ireland - see also Inflated Opinion - article by John Leech on the merits or otherwise of auto-inflating life jackets - from IWN Winter 2004.

Rescue Groups

Environment:

Electric Boats - article by Alun Goodall - part1,  part2

Portable Toilets - article by Brian J Goggin from IWN Summer 2002

Get the solids out of the Shannon - article by Brian J Goggin from IWN Summer 2002

Ecotopia is a yearly two-week gathering of environmental and social activists organised by European Youth For Action (EYFA).  This is a report by Carolan Goggin of a 2002 gathering. (from IWN Autumn 2002)

Loos: Lough Derg and Lough Ree Catchment, Brian J Goggin, from IWN Winter 2001

Loos laws, Brian J Gogggin - rules about loos on the canals, the Shannon and the Erne, from IWN Winter 2001

Winsome loos sum, Brian J Gogggin - more about toilets!, from IWN Winter 2001

Derg and Ree Catchment Monitoring: Final Report or New Beginning?, Paddy Mackey from IWN Autumn 2001

Nature Designations on Waterways: Why Bother? Paddy Mackey, from IWN Spring 2003

 

Nature:

Zebra Mussel Control, Michael Hynes - article from IWN Summer 2004

Bats and Irish Waterways, Dr Niamh Roche - article from IWN Autumn 2001

Dolphins Dr Simon Berrow, from IWN Summer 2001

The magic of the mayfly on the Shannon, John Leech, from IWN Summer 2000

Zebra Mussel Control, Michael Hynes - article from IWN Summer 2004