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Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

Inland Waterway News. Boating on Ireland's Rivers, Lakes and Canals
File image of Lock C4 of the Grand Canal’s Circular Line in Dublin city centre
Waterways Ireland advises all masters of vessels and waterways users that the Grand Canal’s Circular Line in Dublin (Lock C1 through to Lock C7) is now reopened. As previously reported on Afloat.ie, the Circular Line had been closed to navigation…
The App is very easy to use, and you do not need experience or knowledge of river health or environments. You only need a smartphone, the app, and 15 minutes to observe and complete the survey
The Rivers Trust has launched the inventive Big River Watch app to coincide with the upcoming World Rivers Day on September 24, 2023. This online tool aims to unite individuals, organisations, and communities throughout Ireland to protect and conserve the…
RS400s racing at Killaloe Sailing Club on Lough Derg
The Irish RS200/400 fleets return to Lough Derg this month for the year's final event on 23/24 September at Killaloe Sailing Club Co. Clare, and boats are expected to travel from all parts of the country for the Inland Championship. From…
The restored Victorian-era red-brick Substation (left) at Dublin Port Centre
Dublin Port’s redbrick Victorian substation will be opened up as a new public space by Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe on Friday. Dublin Port’s chief executive, Barry O’Connell, will also attend the event, where Mr Donohoe will unveil a…
Some 101 green spaces were selected for Gren Flag awards in Ireland
Kerry’s Tralee Bay wetlands and Lough Gur lakeshore in Co Limerick are both winners in this year’s Green Flag awards. Some 101 green spaces were selected for awards in Ireland out of a total of 150 across Europe, according to…
Catholic Primate Archbishop Eamon Martin at lough Neagh
Two archbishops of Armagh have called for a joint task force to save Lough Neagh from “an environmental disaster”. Catholic Primate Archbishop Eamon Martin and Church of Ireland Primate Archbishop John McDowell have issued a joint statement in which they…
Lough Ree Yacht Club was the perfect venue for the massive fleet of 172 Optimist sailors
The last IODAI Regional Championship of the year saw a massive fleet of 172 Optimist sailors descend on the midlands club of Lough Ree last weekend to compete in the Connaught Championships. After a busy summer, it was fitting to…
43rd annual Gortmore Bell Race winners on Lough Derg: (from left to right) Stefan Uhlemann, Robert Bourke, Donie O'Donnell, Stephen O'Mullan and John Lawless
A local Limerick sailing team has emerged victorious in the 43rd annual Gortmore Bell Race, held on September 9th on Lough Derg. The race is considered the longest inland sailing race in Ireland and attracted 18 entries from various sailing…
The Lough Ree RNLI lifeboat
Lough Ree RNLI volunteer lifeboat crew helped six people on board two cruisers that ran aground on the lake. On Saturday morning, September 16th, the Lough Ree RNLI crew rescued two people on board a 40ft cruiser that had stranded…
A Dublin Bay yacht discovered inside the Great South Wall on Saturday after it had broken its moorings has sunk
A yacht that had been moored in Dublin Bay was discovered on the inside of the Great South Wall on Saturday after it had broken its moorings. The sinking of the vessel has been confirmed by Afloat, however, no further…
Waterways Ireland logo
Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels and waterway users of the Shannon Navigation that an ESB contractor will be carrying out repairs on the Ardnacrusha tailrace bridge at Parteen from Monday 18 September for a period of six weeks. The…
Shannon Harbour
Waterways Ireland advises all masters of vessels on and users of the Grand Canal that it will be carrying out underwater structural inspections of the north and south quay walls in Shannon Harbour this coming week. Divers will be in…
Winners Michael O’Connor (RStGYC), Davy Taylor and Ben O’Donoghue in 3809 and runners-up Stefan Hyde (RIYC) and Jerry and Jimmy Dowling in 3741 at the SB20 National Championships on Lough Ree
Michael O’Connor (RStGYC) and his crew mates Davy Taylor and Ben O’Donohoe won the Lough Ree Yacht Club hosted SB20 National Championships last weekend. An eight-boat-strong local fleet also saw entries from RIYC, RCYC, NYC, RStGYC and HYC. Six out…
Kilcock Harbour on the Royal Canal in Co Kildare
Waterways Ireland wishes to advises all masters of vessels on and users of the Royal Canal that a canoe polo event will be taking place in Kilcock Harbour this Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 September. In order to facilitate the…
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Waterways Ireland is commencing upgrading works to a jetty in Leitrim village, and advises masters of vessels on and users of the Shannon-Erne Waterway that this will result in the following temporary closures: The public jetty fronting the Marina Apartments…
Hydrobikes in Enniskillen
Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels and waterway users on the Erne System that the 2023 Hydrobikeathon will take place around the town of Enniskillen on Friday 8 and Saturday 9 September. The event will involve groups of hydrobikes completing…

Whether you're a boat enthusiast, historian, archaeologist, fisherman, or just taken by the natural beauty of Ireland's waterways, you will find something of interest in our Inland pages on Afloat.ie.

Inland Waterways

Ireland is lucky to have a wealth of river systems and canals crossing the country that, while once vital for transporting goods, are today equally as important for angling, recreational boating and of course tourism.

From the Barrow Navigation to the Erne System, the Grand Canal, the Lower Bann, the Royal Canal, the Shannon-Erne Waterway and the Shannon Navigation, these inland waterways are popular year in, year out for anyone with an interest in rambling; flora and fauna; fishing; sailing; motorboating; canoeing, kayaking and waterskiing; and cruising on narrowboats.

Although most will surely identify Ireland's inland waterways with boating holidays and a peaceful afternoon's angling, many varieties of watersport are increasingly favoured activities. Powerboat and Jetski courses abound, as do opportunities for waterskiing or wakeboarding. For those who don't require engine power, there's canoeing and kayaking, as Ireland's waterways have much to offer both recreational paddlers and those looking for more of a challenge. And when it comes to more sedate activities, there's nothing like going for a walk along a canal or river bank following some of the long-distance Waymarked Ways or Slí na Sláinte paths that criss-cross the country.

Ireland's network of rivers, lakes and canals is maintained by Waterways Ireland, which is one of the six North/South Implementation Bodies established under the British-Irish Agreement in 1999. The body has responsibility for the management, maintenance, development and restoration of inland navigable waterways on the island of Ireland, principally for recreational purposes. It also maintains Ireland's loughs, lakes and channels which are sought after for sailing; the network of canal locks and tow paths; as well as any buoys, bridges and harbours along the routes.

Along the Grand and Royal Canals and sections of the Barrow Navigation and the Shannon-Erne Waterway, Waterways Ireland is also responsible for angling activities, and charges Inland Fisheries Ireland with carrying out fisheries development, weed management and ensuring water quality.

Brian Goggin's Inland Blog

Giving his personal perspective on Ireland's Inland Waterways from present-day activities to their rich heritage, Brian Goggin tells it like it is with his Inland Blog.

From recognising achievements in management of the waterways to his worries on the costs of getting afloat on Ireland's canals, Goggin always has something important to say.

He also maintains the website Irish Waterways History that serves as a repository for a wealth of historical accounts of the past commercial and social uses alike of Ireland's rivers and canals, which were once the lifeblood of many a rural community.