-
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. -
- 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 -
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. -
Out of stock
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. -
MY LAGAN LOVE - A Portrait of the River Lagan Text By Ian Hill, Paintings by Gillian Lutton. Hardback. The Lagan may be a small river compared with the great European rivers such as the Rhine or the Danube yet this grey-brown river which sluices through Belfast once created the power to run the mills and foundries, not just of the cities of Belfast and Lisburn, but of every town and village from the mountains to the sea, thus establishing much of the wealth of Ulster. This book treats you to an unrivalled trip to explore the river and surrounding area in the company of leading travel writer Ian Hill and respected watercolourist Gillian Lutton. Stop along the way as Ian shares with you his unique insights on the ecology, geography and history of the Lagan, its famous and sometimes scandalous people, whilst Gillian Lutton’s stunning watercolours reveal to you the hidden treasures to be found around this marvellous stretch of river. 112 pages, padded hardback 285mm x 210mm x 15mm -
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 -
Alain Le Garsmeur & Keith Baker In 1776 Richard Twiss compared Lough Erne to Loch Lomond, the Italian Lakes and Lake Geneva. Today Lough Erne still stands up to such comparisons and remains a visitors' paradise. It is also a lough of two parts: the upper lough, with its tangle of inlets and drumlins, and the lower lough, with its corridor of islands and broad expanses of water, almost like inland seas. Between the two is Enniskillen, the heart of the region and a historic, lively and much-Loved town that boasts such attractions as the castle, the Inniskillings' Regimental Museum and Cole's Monument. The book follows the course of the Erne, moving from the upper lough, through Enniskillen to the lower lough. In over 150 stunning photographs, Alain Le Garsmeur captures the beauty of the area in all its different moods, seasons and weathers, from frosty days at the Crom Estate to the spring days when bluebells carpet the shores. Accompanied by Enniskillen-born Keith Baker's informative and engaging words, the photographs tell the story of the lough, from its well-known landmarks such as Devenish, Boa Island and Florence Court to its stunning hidden inlets, moorings and jetties. Lough Erne is an unmissable celebration of life on the water in one of the best-Loved parts of Ireland, perfect for those who want to discover the area, and for those who have already fallen under its spell. Hard Back with dust cover. 144 Pages, 280 x 255 x 16mm -
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. -
This is a fascinating new book by Brian Cassells, entitled ‘By the Shores of Lough Neagh’, published by Cottage Publications. In it, Brian explores the history and people of the Lough in great depth, illustrating his journey around the Lough with a superb collection of photographs. Starting at his childhood home in the Montiaghs, in the southern Lough Neagh wetlands, Brian takes the reader on a tour through the history of the Lough, its people and its industry. Many long forgotten nuggets of information are gleaned along the way. The vital role the Lough and its shoreline played in the Second World War, which led to the development of Aldergrove International Airport; its role as the hub of the waterway network for the Newry, Coalisland and Lagan canals, with the Upper and Lower Bann navigation's delivering barges to the Lough Neagh Basin; the evolution of local fishing practices into what is now the largest commercial wild eel fisher in Europe and the endurance of the sand extraction industry are all recounted in Brian’s authoritative narrative. Brian Cassells is the Chairman of the Lough Neagh Advisory Committee and was President of the Inland Waterways Association of Ireland from 2005 to 2007. He is currently Chairman of the local museum committee where he has embarked on an ambitious plan to establish a waterways museum at Oxford Island. -
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
Call Us Today! 1800-924991 | Email: info@iwai.ie
