A selection of books and maps (not for navigation) related to the Irish Inland Waterways
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67.M, The Story of a Barge by Charlie Dunn This beautifully bound 202pg book takes you through the 80 something year history of one of Irelands heritage barges. It covers the construction and history of the vessel as well as its life as a working boat and the men who lived and worked on her. Charlie's journey with 67.M began in 1992 and he walks you through his triumphs and challenges in an honest account of what its like to convert a heritage barge, sell it, and then buy it back again. This book contains many stories and tales of times gone by as well as some of the practical knowledge Charlie has gained over the years. A comprehensive history of one boats journey on the Inland Waterways. Book is a hardback leather bound, A4 size -
Historic Killaloe - A Guide to its Antiquities by Sean Kierse. First published 1983, this edition 2001. A short guide to the built heritage of the Historic Town of Killaloe and it's environs including St Flannan's Cathederal, Kincora and the Graves of the Leinstermen. 46 Pages, Fully illustrated in B&W with colour cover. 210 x 146 x 3mm. -
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Sixty years old this year, the first meeting of the IWAI in 1954 attracted some 200 like minded people who had the foresight to come together with the shared aims of promoting traffic on the rivers and canals, opposing any obstructions and campaigning for the conservation and preservation of a working navigation. Today the IWAI boasts a membership of around 3,500 who carry on the work of their predecessors. The commitment of each and every member of the Association has seen the achievement of many great feats and overcome many challenges which has ensured that boats can still enjoy free access on the inland waterways from Limerick to Beleek and further afield. This book is a marvelous insight into the Association and a formal record of its sixty year history and is a must have for anyone with an interest in Ireland's wonderful inland waterways. Hard Cover 188p -
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An illustrated guide to Lough Ree which includes photos, maps, water depths and handy tips to both common and off the beaten track moorings. First Published in 2018 by Pat McManus -
Few people today are aware of the history of organised yachting on the north Shannon on Lough Allen, Lough Key, Lough Drumharlow, Lough Boderg, Lough Bofin and Lough Forbes. Between 1896 and 1929 there was a prosperous yacht club in the north Shannon in which the landlords and professional classes who were residents of Counties Roscommon, Leitrim and Longford enjoyed time on the lakes. The club had a major influence on the creation of the Shannon one-design. This book is the definitive history of the club, warts and all. The North Shannon Yacht Club by Vincent Delany describes the history of the Club in the latter part of the 19th century and the early years of the 20th century. Drawing on the Delany family archives, interviews with descendants of those involved and newspaper articles the book describes the events that took place under the flag of the club, the people involved and also lists many of the vessels involved. 82 pages with some colour images.230 x 152 x 7mm. Published by Vincent Delany. -
Round Ireland by Slow Boat by Richard Kennedy is a captivating and entertaining story of a sailing voyage taken by Richard and Rita Kennedy on their yacht Seachran. Starting from Rossaveal in Connemara, they undertake a leisurely circumnavigation of Ireland to fulfill a long-standing resolve. Intended to be a 10 week journey, fate and circumstance allowed Rita and Richard to turn the trip into a 5 month voyage over two summers. Throughout the trip, Richard kept a detailed diary which became the basis for this book. Paperback, 261 pages plus 16 pages of colour photos. 157 x 234 x 20mm. Published by Throughthechair Publishing. -
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Paul Clements travels the length of the Shannon in this book. It will be of interest to nature lovers and to tourists, containing a wealth of local knowledge of the area around Shannon, especially useful for ‘staycations’. In August 1939 the Irish travel writer Richard Hayward set out on a road trip to explore the Shannon region just two weeks before the Second World War broke out. His evocative account of that trip, Where the River Shannon Flows, still sought after now by lovers of the river, became a bestseller. Eighty years on, inspired by his work, Paul Clements – author of Romancing Ireland, the biography of Richard Hayward – retraces Hayward’s journey along the river, following – if not strictly in his footsteps – then within the spirit of his trip. From the Shannon Pot in Cavan, 344 kilometres south to the Shannon estuary, his meandering odyssey takes him by car, on foot, and by bike and boat, discovering how the riverscape has changed but is still powerful in symbolism. While he recreates Hayward’s trip, Clements also paints a compelling portrait of twenty-first century Ireland, mingling travel and anecdote with an eye for the natural world. The book gives a voice to stories from water gypsies, anglers, sailors, lock keepers, bog artists, ‘insta’ pilgrims and a water diviner celebrating wisdom through her river songs and illuminates cultural history and identity. Wildlife, nature, and the built heritage, including historic bridges, all play a part. On a quixotic journey Paul Clements produces an intimate portrait of the hidden countryside, its people, topography and wildlife, creating a collective memory map, looking at what has been lost and what has changed. This is the country of the River Shannon that runs through literature, art, cultural history and mythology with a riptide pull on our imagination – a tribute to Ireland’s longest river reflecting the deep vein flowing through the culture of the country.About the Author
Paul Clements is a travel writer and broadcaster. He is the author of Romancing Ireland: Richard Hayward, 1862–1964 (Lilliput, 2015), as well as three books on Ireland: Irish Shores: A Journey Round the Rim of Ireland (1993), The Height of Nonsense: The Ultimate Irish Road Trip (2005), and Burren Country: Travels Through an Irish Limestone Landscape (2011). He has written and edited two books on travel writer and historian Jan Morris, and is a contributing writer to Fodor’s Guide Ireland and Insight Guide Ireland. A former BBC journalist, he is a Fellow of Green Templeton College, Oxford and lives in Belfast. 284 pages 215 x 136 x 30mm B&W. Paperback -
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The Motor Yacht Club of Ireland by Vincent Delany describes motor boating in Ireland 1907-1935 including the arrival of outboard engines n Ireland, the Tailteann Games 1924 with inboard engines and 1928 with inboard and outboard engines and the arrival of hydroplane racing in Ireland. It describes events in Kingstown, Pembroke, Clontarf, Waterford, Cork Harbour, Belfast Lough, River Bann, Loughs Boderg, Bofin, Forbes, Ree and Tarmonbarry. The book is modest in size but carries historic photographs of the people and vessels. Paperback, 48 pages with many photographs. 229 x 153 x 5mm. -
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The Rivers of Dublin by Clair L. Sweeney. 2nd Edition, revised by Gerard O'Connell and Michael Curtis. Re-printed 2020 The new edition of a cherished study; a unique examination of the water routes of Ireland’s capital and the ceaseless activity they enabled and inspired. It proves, in short, that the history of Dublin is that of its rivers. The rivers, tributaries, and streams that have populated Dublin since its establishment have governed the expansion of the city and its quality of life; over time, many of these water routes have become hidden from view. Clair Sweeney’s work brings the ancient watercourses to the surface once more, breathing life into alternate maps of Dublin – excavating entire societies. Sweeney’s position in the Dublin Corporation’s engineering department gave him unparalleled access to places that most hardly know exist. The Rivers of Dublin, newly updated and beautifully redesigned, is a meticulous study of the watercourses that flow through Ireland’s capital city, serving as a history of those who settled and thrived along their banks. Paperback with French Flaps. Full Colour. 278 Pages. 224 x 173 x 15mm -
In 2019, Gwen Wilkonson set herself the challange of building a canoe and paddlng it the lenght of Ireland, along a network of inland waterways. Setting out from the shores of Lough Erne, she navigated a 400km journey to the tidal waters of the River Barrow in Ireland. More than just a travelogue, 'The Waters and the Wild' explores the interwoven histories of the people and wildlife that shaped Gwen's journey. From wild camping on deserted islands to drifting on lakes in the company of restless lapwings. This book invites the reader to share an intense engagment with the natural world. The charming text is accompanied by the authors own striking lino and woodcut prints, beautiful and thought provoking interpretations of the flora and fauna she observed on her travels. Gwen paddled to explore, searching for inspiration and a desire to learn more about the island we we inhabbit, and she was met with rich and illuminating experiances far beyond her expectations. -
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The concept of this calendar is to celebrate the women, their boats and the Waterways of Ireland. The models are members of the HBA and the IWAI who, I feel have stepped up to the challenge of trying something well outside their comfort zone, all in the name of Charity. Body painting is a relatively new art form in Ireland and I have had an amazing fun putting my designs on living canvas, with such fantastic backdrops as the rivers, lakes and canals on our gorgeous waterways. So I hope you enjoy the calendar as much as we did and that you're inspired even more to enjoy our wonderful waterways. - Donna Pryde, Artist -
(Photo Coming soon, having a problem uploading it) The late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries were a boom period for Irish waterways. HM Treasury had cash to burn and influential Irish MPs were keen to bring money home in the form of infrastructure investment. As navigation by waterway became faster and easier, new possibilities opened up: fresh eggs and bacon to Liverpool for breakfast, a ready supply of turf to Limerick to fuel the distillery, bogs drained for arable land, and fast comfortable trips to Kilkee to take the sea air. Based on a collection of the late Brian J Goggin's extensive research and writings on Irish waterways, this book tells the story of those improvements and of many diversions along the way: waterways which were never completed, debauchery in the canals of Dublin, cargoes stolen, workers on strike and boats sunk. This is a selection of what his family hope you will find to be interesting articles on interesting subjects, rather than a comprehensive history of Ireland's waterways. The book is a has a hardback cover with a paper slip. It measures 24.1 x 17 x 2.8cm -
First published in 1949, Green & Silver by L.T.C. Rolt describes a journey through the inland waterways of Ireland. He takes us over the mighty Shannon from the upper limit of navigation at the little village of Battlebridge, near Leitrim down to Lough Derg of the islands and storms. With him we travel on the Grand Canal across the curlew-haunted solitude's of the great Bog of Allen down to Dublin's Ringsend Docks and returning to the Shannon via the majestic Royal Canal. Rolt in his inimitable style paints a picture of an Ireland that has all but disappeared and very different to the Ireland of today. The Royal Canal closed a few short years after his journey and fell into a state of neglect and decay. However as a result of the Trojan efforts of some very dedicated people, the Royal Canal reopened to navigation in late 2010. Once again it is possible to follow in the wake of Rolt and while the towns and villages of his day have changed greatly, the waterways have remained the same. While not everybody will have the time or resources to enjoy the pleasures of slow boat travel along these incredibly beautiful waterways, reading Green and Silver with its descriptive prose is an excellent substitute. It is the classic book of the Irish Waterways and will appeal to the armchair traveler, boater, social historian and anyone with an interest in the history off our Irish canals. This edition published 2015 by The Canal Bookshop with a forward by Tim Rolt. Soft Cover, 237pages 240x185x16mm -
by Harry Rice "Being Personal Reminiscences, Traditions, History and Navigational Details about the River Shannon". Originally published in 1952, this edition is a reprint produced by Athlone Branch IWAI in 2002 with a foreword by Ruth Heard. Paperback, 234 pages, 215 x 135 x 19 mm -
Cool Metal – Clear Water – 2nd Edition. Fully revised and enlarged edition of the very popular history of the trading boats (and some others!) of the Irish inland waterways system. Originally published by the Heritage Boat Association in 2006 the book records the history of many of the historic vessels still to be seen travelling our inland waterways. There is also an index of the boats whose details appear in this volume and the companion volume “Fine Lines – Clear Water”. Published by the Heritage Boat Association. 218 Pages 209x151x14mm. Full Colour. Paperback. -
Fine Lines - Clear Water is the second book published by the Heritage Boat Association documenting the floating heritage of Ireland's inland waterways. It complements the earlier publication Cool Metal - Clear Water. It covers a range of historic craft found on the Irish waterways including Irish built working boats, Dutch & English barges, Flying Boat Tenders and a number of pleasure boats. It also contains a very useful index to both volumes. -
The Shannon Navigation by Ruth Delany. Hardback The Shannon Navigation traces the history of the River Shannon as a navigation up to the present day from the 1750's when the early works were commenced under the Commissioners of Inland Navigation and subsequently under the Directors General of Inland Navigation. It traces the early routes, the development of the navigation through the turbulent late 18th century and the massive improvements undertaken during the early and middle 19th century , much of which was to provide work for the poor. The decline of the navigation in the interwar and postwar years is covered as is the campaigns by the IWAI and others to retain the navigation, and its extraordinary resurgence as Ireland premier leisure navigation in more recent times Lavishly illustrated with over 250 photographs and illustrations, many not published before, this magnificent documentary history is the most authoritative and complete text on the Shannon navigation. Hardback, 300 pages, 250 photos and illustrations, tables, appendices. Published by Lilliput press in association with Waterways Ireland. Now reduced to €50.00 -
The Shannon Navigation by Ruth Delany. Paperback The Shannon Navigation traces the history of the River Shannon as a navigation up to the present day from the 1750's when the early works were commenced under the Commissioners of Inland Navigation and subsequently under the Directors General of Inland Navigation. It traces the early routes, the development of the navigation through the turbulent late 18th century and the massive improvements undertaken during the early and middle 19th century , much of which was to provide work for the poor. The decline of the navigation in the interwar and postwar years is covered as is the campaigns by the IWAI and others to retain the navigation, and its extraordinary resurgence as Ireland's premier leisure navigation in more recent times Lavishly illustrated with over 250 photographs and illustrations, many not published before, this magnificent documentary history is the most authoritative and complete text on the Shannon navigation. Paperback, 300 pages, 250 photos and illustrations, tables, appendices. Published by Lilliput press in association with Waterways Ireland. Now reduced to €27.00
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Driftwood: From the Shannon to the Marne - By Harry Sheehy This is the wonderful adventure story of a boat called Driftwood. It's not a trip to the North Pole or a climb to the peak of Mount Everest. This is the every man's adventure. It is within the of all of us to go on a voyage of this kind and it is that fact that makes Driftwood such a compelling read. After spending three years planning this trip the author grabs the bull by the horns and with no real idea what he is doing he points the sharp end of his boat out into the Atlantic Ocean. Some days things go well and some days they don't but every day is an adventure. The story is told with humor and with humility The crew of Driftwood have to grapple with bad weather, engine trouble as well as the occasional bad pint of Guinness. After crossing the Celtic Sea and the Channel they enter the French Inland Waterways and the true adventure really begins. Harry describes the characters he met along the way in his own gripping style. -
Ruth Delany & Ian Bath This is a revised, more lavish edition of the book published in 1992. The book is the fruit of many years research by Ruth Delany and Ian Bath into the records of the canal company and other sources. the book begins with Ruth's log of the last journey along the canal in 1955 and then traces the story of how one of Ireland's principal waterways came into being. It covers the problems of construction, the rivalry with the Grand Canal, the active working years, the Midland Great Western Railway takeover and the decline and eventual closure of the canal. The book then recounts the campaign begun in 1974 to restore the canal and the parts played by the OPW, Ian Bath, Eddie Slane and others. The book is illustrated by photos, drawings, engravings, posters and maps and has a wealth of detail in the appendices about the company finances, tonnage carried etc. -
- Ruth Delany A comprehensive, and many would say the definitive guide to the history and development of the canal systems of Ireland from the 1730s to the present day. Now updated to include recent developments this absorbing and fully-illustrated history of Ireland's inland waterways focuses on the stories of the routes and their economic role. Revised edition, Appletree Press, 2004 ISBN 0862818249 -
Sean Cahill, Jimmy Casey and Gearoid O’Brien A unique guide to Lough Ree, and one of the most important new books published about Lough Ree in the recent past, includes the ecclesiastical, civil and social history of the larger islands on the lake. A must for those interested in the unique feature of Lough , that until very recently it still had inhabitants on its island. Hardback The IWAI has supported this final reprint and we have copies available now. Order this unique book today -
A guide to the wide variety flora and fauna along our canals. Written by Brigid Johnston and Marie Dromey for Duchas - The Heritage Service a number of years ago, this 48 page book will appeal to adults and children alike. -
Until the early 18th century, life for the majority of people in Ireland had not changed greatly since the Middle Ages, but then the pace of change began to accelerate. New sources of power heralded the Industrial Revolution in Britain, although Ireland's economy continued to be largely agriculture based. However a better transport system was needed to enable more efficient movement of goods and materials. This was provided by civil engineers who planned, designed and built canals, improved the existing roads, developed railways, and extended the harbours. They also provided water supplies for the growing centres of population and systems for the disposal of wastewater required for improvements in public health. Fully illustrated throughout, the book is an important contribution to the industrial history of Ireland and describes the achievements of such famous names as Alexander Nimmo, Sir John Macneill, Bindon Blood Stoney and John Killaly. It includes a gazetteer of many surviving historical civil engineering works, ranging from bridges, aqueducts and viaducts, to canals, dams and water supplies, and from docks and harbours to lighthouses. Edited by Ronald Cox and Philip Donald. Collins Press. While not exclusively an "Inland Waterways" book, this is nevertheless a very useful reference for anyone with an interest in our inland waterways. Paperback 288p 245 x 172 x 17mm. Full Colour. -
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The Skipper & Her Mate: Ten years on Irish Waters. by Nicki Griffin. This is a book about people, boats and wildlife on the Irish Waterways. Told from the perspective of a woman with only a week's hire-boat experience learning to drive a vintage timber cruiser, it is a journey through rivers and canals, and an apprenticeship in the ways of boating among a vibrant community of new and diverse people. When Nicki Griffin started boating in 2000, the inland waterways were occupied by older family boats. In the years to follow she would witness these being replaced by larger cruisers and 'gin-palaces', changing the character of the Irish Waterways, and threatening what was, for many, a unique and special way of life. Following in the wake of such works as Theo Dorgan's 'Sailing for Home' and 'Time on the Ocean' and Dick Warner's television shows, 'The Skipper & Her Mate' will appeal to the novice, the river rat and non-boater alike. Nicki Griffin has been writing a very popular column for Inland Waterways News since 2002. The Skipper & Her Mate is her first book. 233p Paperback 215x135x20mm -
EAST OF IRELAND WALKS - ON RIVER AND CANAL - A Walking Guide by Lenny Antonelli. Like secret highways, Ireland's rivers and canals wind their way through undiscovered parts of the country that are rich in wildlife, history and folklore. Walking our little used waterside trails reveals hidden threads of wilderness through rural and urban Ireland, rich in flora and fauna, and uncovers remnants of a time when life in Ireland revolved around its waterways rather than its roads. This guide introduces some of the best river and canal trails in Leinster, from short strolls to long day-hikes, and one multi-day trek. It features deep wooded valleys in Wicklow, the big rivers of the south-east, old canals that criss-cross the midlands, and suburban rivers in Dublin. With an eye out for wildlife, the author describes these walking routes by Ireland's rivers and Canal, while recounting local history and offering practical advice for walkers. Whether you are new to hiking in Ireland or an experienced walker, these new and less-trodden paths will bring you to places of unexpected beauty. 128 Pages. Paperback. Full colour. 198x127x8mm -
Written by Giles Byford with Illustrations by Jill Parkinson. Life afloat suits some people, and with a business that's made living and working all over the English waterways possible, it suits Giles and Jill so well they feel blessed. Everything, from the odd circumstance of finding their first narrowboat to rejecting academia, seems to bring rewards: so they are not surprised that the same strange magic appears to be working it's charm when they set about building Hawthorn, the barge they intend to spend the rest of their lives exploring Europe on. The future's promising and wonderful. And then, quite suddenly, everything falls apart. Reedbound is largely about what follows. How the terrifying violence of crossing the Irish Sea becomes an act of faith that contrasts with a gentle westward wandering along an empty canal to the River Shannon. And how, over the year they spend exploring the Irish waterways, a philosophy of trusting all will be well and refusing to research beyond the barest minimum delivers adventure, unexpected spaces and other misfits. Ultimately Reedbound is a celebration of how the redemptive power of Ireland's landscape and culture re-establishes the couple's faith that they're looked after on the water. Hardback. 217 pages. 165x240x20mm -
Bernadette Cunningham & Harman Murtagh, editors. Combining archaeology, historical geography, history and literature, this book explores the settlement history of Lough Ree through the centuries. Themes include place-names, mythology and literature, the architecture and context of ecclesiastical and secular buildings on the islands and surrounding shores, demesne landscapes, boating on the lake and modern island living. These authoritative studies of key themes associated with the historic settlement of this lake land region are a valuable resource to inform future work on the heritage landscape of Lough Ree and the River Shannon. The book is part of a successful series of thematic essay collections produced by the Group for the Study of Irish Historic Settlement. Hardback. 264 Pages. 240x165x22mm. -
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For over thirty years the re-opening of the Ulster Canal has been the passionate dream of historian and waterways expert Brian Cassells, so come with him now on a stroll along the banks of the Ulster Canal through the pages of this book to learn of its history, the traumas of its inception, the struggles of its 90 year commercial life leading to its closure and the exciting prospects of what a rejuvenated Ulster Canal could become. 108Pages, Hardback 216x220x15mm. -
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Water, Wind and Wood - A Memoir - by Reggie Goodbody. Reggie Goodbody grew up in isolation beside Lough Derg during the war before moving to live on a boat for 2 1/2 years. Education required a move to Dublin before moving to England to work in the timber trade. Returning to Dublin in 1960 he worked in a wooden box factory and saw mills. In 1979 he set up his own boatyard in with his wife Hjordis in Portumna, building and repairing yachts and motor cruisers. This memoir tells stories of old boats and entertaining characters on the Shannon, restoring a steam boat, a Pucan, a wooden Dragon and making a very fast barrel back launch. A lifetime sailing on the lakes and at sea, making scale models and half-hulls, violins, and restoring a water clock to name a few projects as well as building and restoring several houses. His involvement with Newtown School, Waterford and Lough Derg Yacht Club, Industrial Heritage, Photography, his two sons and his dogs produce many entertaining reminiscences. Over 150 photographs, 200 Pages, Hardback. -
Published by IWAI Athlone Branch in 1979 to celebrate the first 25 years of the Athlone Branch. Contains information about the history of the branch up to that point, the events that took place and other information. The book contains many interesting photos of people, vessels and events from the period. Paperback, 72 pages, black & white, 240x180x5mm. These books are unused but have been in storage for many years and so are not in perfect condition.
