IWAI - Chronology

	1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, Recent Activities
Feb-80	Government decision to halt all further drainage works on Pollardstown Pen and half a million pounds allocated to purchase parts of it.
Apr-80	IWAI’s Clean Water Week, posters issued to primary and secondary schools
09-Nov-80	Rally to focus attention on restoration of the Naas Canal. Work begins at both ends.
1980	Work begins on new Dromod Harbour.
1980	Work commences fitting more than a dozen new pairs of gates on the Barrow Navigation
1980	Concern expressed about mounting problem of water pollution. The Irish Boat Rental Association publishes a report which shows that boats are only responsible for less than 3% of the pollution on the Shannon.
1980	Scarva Branch IWAI mounts campaign to restore the Newry Canal,
26-Feb-81	Minister for Transport, Albert Reynolds, inaugurates lockgate AnCO building scheme in premises made available by Messrs Arthur Guinness,
06-Mar-81	Ruth Heard succeeded Bill Child as President IWAI
19-Jun-81	IWAI becomes incorporated as a limited liability company.
1981	“Year of the Royal Canal”: Ballynacargy harbour re-watered and focus on Abbeyshrule
1981	Newry Canal survey
1981	Minister for Fisheries, Mr Power, announced allocation of Ł1/4 million for purchase by the State of areas of Pollardstown Fen threatened by drainage.
1981	Boyne Branch established
1981	Year of the Royal Canal declared,
1981	Inland Waterways Amenity Advisory Council established in UK and IWAI calls for similar body here.
07-Mar-82	Offaly Branch walk along the Kilbeggan Line and submit survey to the Minister for Transport,
21-Jan-82	IWAI convened meeting to establish Irish Water Sports & Recreation Federation to bring together the bodies associated with water sports to encourage conflict resolution.
Easter 1982	Over 50 boats attend the Rally at Vicarstown and about 30 of these then headed off down the Barrow as part of the: Year of the Barrow celebrations
Jun-82	Over 50 boats attend Offaly Rally commencing at Edenderry and moving to Tullamore
Sep-82	IWAI President calls for greater coexistence, among waterway users as the number of those engaging in various water-based activities increases and tensions arise.
Sep-82	Call for more discipline in the use of VHF radios.
30-Oct-82	Dublin Branch organises a work party on the 3rd lock on the Naas Canal.
Nov-82	Vandalism on the stretches Of the Grand Canal On the outskirts of Dublin increasing.
Nov-82	The Executive Committee of the IWAI asks the Government to include the long delayed transfer of the waterways in the National Heritage Act.
09-Nov-82	IWAI puts forward a submission expressing concern about Westmeath County Council’s plans to use Lough Owel, which is the principle supply of the Royal Canal, as a drinking water supply.
Dec-82	IWAI and Irish Yachting Association attend a meeting with the VEC to investigate using Ringsend Basin as a water sports area.
1982	“Year of the Barrow”
1982	Upper Barrow Branch established
1982	Dromod Harbour completed and work commenced on Williamstown
1982	Death of Victor Barham, one of the founders of the Belturbet Branch
1982	Carrick Branch explore possibility of developing a marina.
1982	Naas Urban Council make money available for timber of Naas Canal lockgates to be made in Watling Street under the AnCO lockgate building scheme.
1983	Declared as Year of the Grand Canal
1983	“Year of the Grand Canal”: focus by local group on restoration of the Kilbeggan Line.
1983	Work on River Erne to Belturbet financed by Bord Failte.
1983	IWAI Carrick marina project to proceed.
1983	Corrib Branch attempts to stir the Corrib Navigation Trustees into action.
1983	Kilcock Festival held in level with water restored.
1983	IWAI attends Public Inquiry into plans by local authority to take water from Lough Owel, the main supply to the Royal Canal: permission granted to take 6 million gallons per day.
1983	Dublin Branch expresses concern to Dublin Port & Docks Board about the proposed new lifting bridge over the Liffey but told it will open on demand.
1983	CIE continues programme of installing lockgates on the Royal Canal completed, by the ANCO scheme.
1983	Dublin Branch submits a Scheme for the development of the amenity potential of the Grand Canal from Inchicore to Clondalkin to Dublin Corporation and Dublin County Council,
1983	IWAI Council expresses concern to ESB about the height of high voltage cables over the Shannon in view of the increasing numbers of sailing craft with alloy masts
1983	North Barrow Branch of the IWAI re-activated.
Mar-84	IWAI publishes a Guide to the Royal Canal.
23-Mar-84	IWAI elects its, first President from Northern Ireland, John Suitor.
16-Jun-84	A fleet of small boats from the Erne Branch explored the River Blackwater from Moy to Coney Island on Lough Neagh
12-16 July 1984	35 boats attend the Corrib Rally celebrating the Galway Quincentennial Year.
29-Sep-84	Dublin Branch holds a Dinghy Scramble from Cross Guns Bridge, Royal Canal, via the River Liffey to Portobello on the Grand Canal
Nov-84	IWAI Council asks Carrick, Belturbet and Erne branches to prepare a report on the possible of re-opening of the Ballinamore &, Ballyconnell Canal, reviving earlier efforts by Peter Denham.
1984	“Year of the Corrib”: Weed cutter arrived. Proud that they are still able to drink Corrib water and all boats use chemical toilets
1984	Kildare Branch established
1984	30 new gates completed at Watling Street for the Royal Canal and installation begins by CIE
1984	Further branches of the RCAG are formed at Killucan and Maynooth
1984	Increasing concern about the water quality on the River Shannon.
1-2 June 1985	Derg Branch organise rally at Shannonbridge & Clonfert "In the Wake of St Brendan the Navigator”.
27July-3 Aug. 1985	Silver Jubilee 25th Annual Shannon Boat Rally attended by 82 boats from Carrick-on-Shannon to Lough Ree ending up with gales and rain on the final few days.
Nov-85	IWAI invited by Brady Shipman Martin to make a submission to their survey of the Grand Canal system and Barrow Navigation commissioned by OPW
1985	Shannon Harbour Branch established
1985	Boyne Branch established
1985	Clonmacnois jetties put in place
1985	Death of Ted Barrett who had published “Irish Inland Waterways Holidays” and established a marina at Lowtown in the old Coalyard
1985	Death of Terence Mallagh: whose expertise in marine engineering was so vital to the IWAI and who built the waterbus Clonskeagh in his back garden.
1985	On-going negotiations with the ESB about low level high tension Cables over the River Shannon.
1985	Dublin Corporation and Dublin County Council make grants to provide timber for more lockgates for the Royal Canal. Westmeath Council suggest a second lockgate scheme at Killucan. New slips are made at Thomastown, Mullingar and Ballinea Bridge. RCAG branches at Dublin, Maynooth, Enfield, Kilcock, Mullingar, Killucan and Ballinacargy & Abbeyshrule.
1985	Corrib Navigation Trustees carry out a waterborne investigation of Lough Corrib following years of pressure from the Corrib Branch IWAI and issues such as marks, piers, weed control and charting are raised by the branch at a follow up meeting.
May-86	New IWAI ensigns available.
03-Jul-86	The Canals act finally passed and the official transfer from CIE to OPW of the Grand Canal system Royal Canal and Barrow Navigation made at a ceremony at Robertstown.
November 1986:	Derg Branch draw attention to the increasing problem of water Pollution on Lough Derg with no sign any action from the Government
Dec-86	Dublin Branch chairman draws attention to the increasing number of wild mink on the waterway and the damage they are causing to other wildlife.
1986	Killucan lockgate factory in operation and produced 6 pairs of gates for the Royal Canal.
1986	OPW complete. a detailed survey of the Ballinamore & Ballyconnell Canal and furnish a report to the Minister for Finance.
1986	Athlone Branch reprint “Thanks for the Memory”.
1986	New bylaws for the canals introduced.
1986	Boyne drainage scheme lowered the river in Navan and led to compensatory measures to restore supply to the navigation from Navan to Stackallen with Boyne Branch working on the locks.
1986	21st Annual Erne Rally.
27-Mar-87	Peter Hanna succeeded John Suitor as President.
09-May-87	Dublin Branch organise Rally to mark the official reopening of the Naas Canal by Padraig Flynn, Minister for the Environment. Gates for locks constructed in Watling Street.
26-Sep-87	Scarva Branch and the Newry Canal Preservation Society organise a rally through Victoria Lock on the Newry Ship Canal.
1987	Death of John Weaving; the familiar figure, accompanied by Brockey and Twiggy will no longer travel the Shannon aboard the Peter Farrell and was greatly missed by all his friends.
1987	Stockpile of Royal Canal gates awaiting installation.
1987	Corrib Trustees repaired Oughterard pier and slip and restored navigation marks.
1987	Brady Shipman Martin Grand Canal, Royal Canal & Barrow Navigation, Management & Development Strategy published by OPW.
1987	IWAI issue statement to the press about on-going efforts to have the clearance of high tension cables marked and in some cases have the cables raised on the waterways.
1987	IWAI make submissions to OPW in relation to the proposed revision of the canals by-laws.
1987	IWAI President, Peter Hanna, calls for publication of the OPW Report on the Ballinamore & Ballyconnell Canal and points to the canal’s restoration as a perfect Cross Border initiative.
1987	Dublin Nautical Trust sets up headquarters in Ringsend Basin.
1987	22 dinghies compete in the Dublin Branch Dinghy Scramble from the Royal Canal via the River Liffey to Portobello on the Grand Canal.
17-Mar-88	Dublin Branch organise an exhibit in the St Patrick Day Parade using a small barge loaned by OPW.
30 Apr-8 May 1988	Dublin Branch Rally to mark Dublin City Millennium attended by 80 boats, the greatest number of boats ever locked down into the city in one day in the canal’s history.
19-Jun-88	Rally attended by 33 boats to mark the official reopening of the Royal canal from 13th Lock to Maynooth Harbour.
16-Oct-88	Official re-opening by the RCAG of the 18th and 19th locks, the first and second locks on the Killucan flight up to the summit level on the Royal Canal.
1988	John McKeown assigned as engineer to the Royal Canal and lockgate installation started in earnest.
1988	Death of Billy Beattie who had contributed greatly to the Kildare Branch.
1988	Messrs Guinness renew the lease on Watling Street and OPW agree to finance timber for the remaining gates on the eastern end of the Royal Canal.
1988	Brady Shipman Martin complete their study of the Grand Canal system and the Barrow Navigation,
1988	Minister of State at the Department of Finance responsible for OPW, Noel Treacy, instigates a survey of the River Suck to establish if it would he feasible to create a new navigation to Ballinasloe,
1988	IWAI Council expresses concern about the increase in "harbour hogging" with the growing numbers of private boats on the River Shannon
15-Jan-89	Major breach on the Grand Canal west of the Blundell Aqueduct near Edenderry, 300 to 400 yards of bank carried away.
21-Mar-89	IWAI represented on the newly established Shannon Forum which has been given an open agenda.
Summer 1989	OPW & ESB experiment with reducing summer water levels to help control winter flooding of adjacent farmland.
Jun-89	IWAI welcomes the announcement that the UK and Irish Governments have adopted the restoration of the Ballinamore & Ballyconnell Canal as a flagship project and appointed ESB International as the project managers.
29-Oct-89	Royal Canal officially re-opened from 12th lock to Mullingar by Pierce Pigott, Director of Engineering, OPW.
1989	New Slaney Branch of the IWAI established.
1989	Concerned about management of the Shannon, including water quality, IWAI calls for a Shannon Authority.
1989	River Shannon Forum established, with IWAI representation, administered by IFA with strong lobby for the “flooding problem” topping the agenda.
1989	Death of Cecil Miller, founder member of Slaney Branch and author of Guide to the Slaney.
	1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, Recent Activities

IWAI - Chronology Compiled by Ruth Delany

IWAI - Chronology
Compiled by Ruth Delany