Contents:
Events Calendar
Belturbet Town
Branch History
Ballinamore-Ballyconnell
Canal
Lough Erne
European Wanderings
Out and About
Overseas Tourist Information
1994 Cruising Guide
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A Cruising Guide and Anthology of the Ballinamore
- Ballyconnell Canal
Published by the Erne-Ballinamore-Ballyconnell Rally Committee
1994
for the Inland Waterways Association of Ireland
Foreword
As President of the Inland Waterways Association of Ireland I was asked to write an introduction for this book.Nothing
gives me greater pleasure.The Inland Waterways was formed in 1954 to promote the development,use and maintenance
of Ireland navigatable rivers and canals. At the time it was proposed to close the Shannon to navigation by building
low level bridges over the river,the Royal Canal was closed,and the proposal was to close the Grand Canal. In a
nutshell we were to lose all our waterways heritage.
Today thankfully is a completely different picture,our thanks being due to the group of concerned people who met
and formed the association.The I.W.A.I. consists today of a council which represents 13 branches which are based
in all the relevant parts of this island. The network of navigatable rivers and canals are at present being maintained
and used.The Ballinamore and Ballyconnell navigation is an example of this base being expanded. At present we have
the Grand Canal and Barrow,the River Shannon,the Erne Navigation,the Corrib and the Lower Bann with Lough Neagh
open to navigation(see map on page XXX)
To-day we are celebrating the opening of the Ballinamore and Ballyconnell canal "the Erne Link" which
will join two of our naviagtion systems,the Shannon and the Erne.
This will leave just one item to be considered in the necklace of waterways in our island. That is the Ulster canal,which
if restored,will connect all our major waterways to Lough Neagh and on to the River Bann.
The Royal Canal under the guiding light of the Royal Canal Amenities Group will open,this year,the navigation from
Dublin to Mullingar and then from Mullingar to the Shannon.
As you can see,the opening to navigation of the Ballinamore/Ballyconnell Canal which was constructed in 1860,and
due to various circumstances was not a success,will now open up a new era in our waterways,which is a major part
of the whole strategy for the inland waterways system in our island.
Having visited the area on many occassions during the construction and having walked the bank of the canal and
viewed the lakes from a distance I am one of the many people who cannot wait to ctuise through this superb navigation
with it's lovely contrast between lakes,canals and rivers.
To conclude I would like to wish all I.W.A.I. members many happy cruising days in the area,and to people reading
this article,please join all the people celebrating this opening of "The Erne link",be it as people who
enjoy "just walking along the bank of the river" or canal fishing or any water based activity.
Happy Cruising
Desmond Leyden President Inland Waterways association of
Ireland.
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