In Kildare, Touring Boats get to cruise the wonderful wooded stretches of the eastern ends of the Grand and Royal Canals and the contrasting flat stretches along the bogs west towards the Shannon and south on parts of the Barrow Line.
Mooring up can be a couple of ropes around a tree, a stake in the ground along any of the open stretches, among the boating communities at Confey, Hazelhatch, Lowtown and Sallins or in the harbours at Edenderry, Kilcock, Monasterevin, Naas or Robertstown. In the evening, sit back and enjoy either the tranquillity of the water far from the crowd or the hospitality extended by those living on or near the water.
Legislation & Safety
There is room for everyone on the canals whatever their interest. The boating ethos is to help everyone enjoy boating no matter what their experience. The IWAI Water Safety – Boating Code of Conduct attempts to make skippers and their crews aware of their responsibilities around boats, people and the environment.
The EU directive for recreational boats, was enacted by the Irish Government in 2017 as EU Recreational Craft and Personal Watercraft Regs 2017 SI 65/2017, replacing SI40/1998; an amendment was introduced in 2023 EU RC&PW Amendment Regs 2023 (SI 288/2023).
These regulations apply to all boats between 2.5 m and 24 m; those suitable for Inland Waterways are designated as Category D and E. Included in the Boat’s assessment is hull shape, construction, structural strength, weather tightness, superstructure, water freeing arrangements, machinery, electrics, steering gear, bilge pumping, life-saving equipment, fire safety, fire appliances, radio, navigation lights and equipment, anchors and cables, accommodation, protection of crew, medical supplies, and the number of people that can be on board.
Recreational Craft are classed into 6 categories:
Category A – Ocean
Category B – Offshore
Category C – Coastal
Category D – Inshore/Estuary
Category E – Inland waterways including large open lakes
Category F – Inland Waterways – open boats less than 7 m in length operating in rivers and sheltered areas on lakes in moderate weather conditions
Boat Amenities
There are no Boat Marinas along the canals and all mooring places with the exception of Grand Canal Docks in Dublin and Shannon Harbour in Offaly are linear and adjacent to the navigation channel.
Waterways Ireland with Kildare County Council and their various partners, upgraded the Kildare canal corridor ten or so years ago to provide 350 metres of linear mooring jetties at Lowtown and 255 metres of linear jetties at Sallins. Both locations have lighting, water taps, and pay as you go pump out and rubbish facilities; some have pay as you go electricity. Lowtown also has a Service Block and large car park for boaters, bikers and walkers.
There are also wooden mooring poles along grassy banks in some rural areas. Most of the locks have waiting jetties and in recent years many of these have been upgraded to facilitate the launching and removal of canoes and kayaks from the water.
Part of the survey carried out by the Charts Special Interest Group (CSIG), identified the positions of the various boating amenities along the Grand & Royal. The Grand Canal and Royal Canal Guides are available from the IWAI Shop
IWAI Kildare welcome the initiative by Kildare County Council in their Development Plan 2023 to 2029 to create a Canal Quarter in Naas close to the harbour, with moorings and facilities for visiting and residential boats, and their support for more moorings and marinas in Kildare. From a tourism perspective, Fáilte Ireland show Kildare waterways as part of Ireland’s Ancient East.