Heritage Boats turn back!
The IWAI fully supports Waterways Ireland’s five-year maintenance plan for the Barrow Navigation. We were delighted to hear that the Planning Departments at Kildare, Laois and Carlow County Councils had approved the programme.
Unfortunately, the maintenance plans for the Navigation in Kildare and Carlow have been appealed to An Bord Pleanala. A decision will not be forthcoming from ABP until July 2025.
This has had a detrimental effect on touring and events on the Navigation in 2025, in particular the Heritage Boat Association’s Barrow Crusade trip. Some of the HBA boats in the fleet got as far as Rathvinden Lock below Carlow but had to turn back due to going aground where there was heavy silt and shale across the navigation. Other problems encountered along the way were trees overhanging into the navigation, parts of the man-made towpath that adjoins the navigation has slipped into the channel, and there is severe silting in the lateral canals adjacent to the river and below the locks. All causing obstructions that needed to be avoided.
This weekend, April 28 and 29, the fleet will be making their way from Carlow, back up the navigation to Athy before heading north on the Barrow Line to Monasterevin, Vicarstown, Rathangan and Lowtown where they will turn west on the Grand Canal and travel to the River Shannon.
Hopefully, there will be better news later in the year and work can commence on this much needed work to allow boats to once again, tour the Goodly Barrow south to St Mullins, Cheekpoint and beyond.
Barrow Navigation 5-year Maintenance Programme – submissions to Councils Feb 2024 – Status April 29 2025
Carlow County Council – Application 2460026 – Permission granted on Feb 13 2025 – Appealed on March 11 2025 PL01.322059 – Decision due from An Bord Pleanala on July 14 2025
Kildare County Council – Application 2460093 – Permission granted on Feb 2 2025 – Appealed on Mar 24 2025 PL01.322109 – Decision due from An Bord Pleanala on July 22 2025
Laois County Council – Application 2460049 – Permission granted on due Mar 24 2025 – Appealed on April 22 2025 PL01.322351 – Invalid – name/address S.127(1)(b)