THE VILLAGE of Clondra, Co Longford, was the scene of celebrations yesterday when a flotilla of boats marked the navigational reunion of the Royal Canal and the Shannon after a 50-year closure of the route.
Boating enthusiasts, some of whom had travelled the 146km canal route from Dublin, converged on the Co Longford village to mark the culmination of a 36-year campaign to restore the Royal Canal as a navigable waterway.
The € 36 million project means that the canal is again navigable from Dublin city centre through a series of 46 locks directly to the river Shannon.
John McKeown has spent 24 years of his career, first with the Office of Public Works and then with Waterways Ireland restoring the canal. Speaking of the canal’s history, he said, “CIÉ closed the canal in 1961 as road and rail links improved. Locks and chambers were removed and there was even talk of filling in the canal.”
Volunteers in the Royal Canal Amenity Group came together in 1974 with the aim of restoring the canal. Founding member of the group and its vice-president, Noel Spaine said, “we didn’t want to be just a placard-carrying group. We cleared the undergrowth and tow paths ourselves and replaced 17 of the locks.”
In recent years, the group has worked closely with the cross-Border body, Waterways Ireland to complete the process.
Speaking about opening yesterday, 76-year-old Mr Spaine said, “After 36 years, we’ve reached our goal. We’re on a high.” Beginning at Spencer Dock in Dublin, boaters can now leave the city behind at Blanchardstown and move through towns and villages including Leixlip, Maynooth, Thomastown and Killashee.
The celebratory flotilla at Clondra this weekend includes boats from each branch of the Royal Canal Amenity Group as well as the Heritage Boat Association, and the Inland Waterways Association of Ireland.
Ruth Delaney, a passenger on The Hark, the last boat to complete the journey from Dublin to Clondra in 1955 also joined the celebrations. John McKeown, now the eastern regional manager for Waterways Ireland, says the canal had the potential to be a major tourist attraction.
“As well as Behan’s Auld Triangle, we now have a new triangle” he said. “Visitors can travel down the Royal Canal to the Shannon, and then from Shannon Bridge, join the Grand Canal back to Dublin.” Mr McKeown said the 350km distance will take boaters over two weeks to complete and will bring visitors from Dublin city through counties Kildare, Meath, Westmeath and Longford.
