Every year there is a series of events organised by IWAI members and local communities to promote the use of the canals in the Kildare area. The year usually starts when the canal is opened after the Waterways Ireland (WI) winter maintenance programme, with an event on or close to St Patrick’s Day and then an Easter Rally.
Kildare IWAI support other members along the canals, lakes and rivers and in recent years have had boating contingents attending events in Dublin, Ballycommon, Tullamore, Shannon Harbour, Vicarstown, up and down the Barrow and the Shannon.
In May 2012, Kildare IWAI inaugurated its first boating get-together in Kilcock on the Royal Canal, and enjoyed a wonderful Midsummer Cruise along this great waterway. Since then, many of our members have completed the Green and Silver route, an initiative devised by Dublin IWAI. At around 356 km through 93 locks, this Circular Route takes you on a journey through urban and rural landscapes, along the Grand Canal, River Liffey, Royal Canal, Camlin River and River Shannon. A great adventure! Tom and Angela Rolt made this trip in 1946 and documented it in their book Green and Silver first published in 1949.
Kildare IWAI has become known among the boating community for its end of season happening, when many boats travel back from their spring, summer and autumn cruising around the country to meet up once Naas Harbour for the annual Naas Canal Festival. It may be a bit chilly outside but the warm welcome from the people of Naas in the old Canal Stores, strange looking people in Halloween costumes, the boats lit up in the harbour and a trip along the Corbally Canal makes this weekend a great social occasion. Calendar
Heritage Boat, Rushmere, on Grand Canal, Dublin – First leg of the Green & Silver route © J Cahill