Contents:
Events Calendar
Belturbet Town
Branch History
Ballinamore-Ballyconnell
Canal
Lough Erne
European Wanderings
Out and About
Overseas Tourist Information
1994 Cruising Guide
Photos |
Description and location of Belturbet Town
 Belturbet (Beal Tairbirt- literally from the Irish "The mouth of Tairbeirt island")
is a market town (Population 1585 census 1992), located at the western end of Co.Cavan in the province of Ulster.
It is one of three Ulster counties,the others being Monaghan and Donegal, which form part of the 26 counties making
up the Republic of Ireland.
The town is situated on the eastern bank of the River Erne which rises in Lough Gowna and flows northwards through
Upper and Lower Lough Erne in Co.Fermanagh,on it's way to the Atlantic ocean at Ballyshannon in Co.Donegal.
Check out
John-the-Map's map of Belturbet
Waterways navigation was extended beyond the River Erne system by the re-opening of the Ballinamore-Ballyconnel
canal,renamed the Shannon-Erne Waterway. Restoration commenced in 1990 and was officially opened in 1994,the project
being funded jointly by the British and Irish Governments among others.With the opening of the canal it is now
also possible to cruise from Belturbet into the River Shannon and to continue as far south to Limerick.
A click able map showing the track of the canal from Leitrim town to Belturbet and onwards to Enniskillen via Upper
and Lower Lough Erne can be accessed on-line by returning to the IWAI home page and selecting the drop down box
under "Irish Waterway Guides".
Close to Belturbet on the River Erne,is the entrance at Wattlebridge to the now defunct Ulster Canal which runs
northwards through counties Cavan,Monaghan,Tyrone and Armagh, where it mergers into the River Blackwater before
emptying into Lough Neagh.A feasibility study carried out by ESB International,concluded that it would be possible
to to renovate the canal,along most of its original track albeit with changes made to the width of the canal to
accommodate modern size craft.If these renovation plans are carried out, then a significant step will have be made
in re-opening the north south waterway traffic that existed many years ago.
There is great hope that renovation will take place and should it happen it will be possible to cruise from Coleraine
in the North of Ireland along the River Bann, across Lough Neagh to Maghery,which marks the beginning of the Ulster
Canal, then through the Shannon-Erne waterway to enter the River Shannon at Leitrim and thereby continuing the
journey to Limerick,or alternatively branch off at either the Royal Canal or Grand Canal to Dublin or indeed if
traveling along the Grand Canal,head further south along the Barrow navigation to St Mullins near New Ross Co.
Wexford.Not a bad days traveling...
For a little more historical perspective about Belturbet and County Cavan
in General follow this link to reference material from the mid 19th century.
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