Royal Canal History
The Royal canal was constructed to connect the River Liffey in Dublin with the upper River Shannon. Works commenced in Dublin in 1770 and lasted 27 years, reaching its summit in Mullingar in 1806 before finally reaching the River Shannon at Tarmonbarry in 1817, at a total cost of £1,421,954.
The total length of the main navigation is 145 Kilometres (90 miles), and the system has 46 locks. The main water supply to the Royal Canal is via the feeder canal from Lough Owel which enters the canal at Mullingar.
For about thirty years following it’s completion the canal enjoyed modest success. However, the railway era in the mid 1800’s, and in particular the opening of the railway line in Mullingar in 1849 signalled the demise of canal use.
There was a revival of horse-drawn barge traffic during the Second World War because of fuel shortages and in 1944 CIE took over the canal company. In 1951 the last independent trader, James Leech of Thomastown retired, and the canal started to slide into dereliction. In 1961 the canal was officially closed by CIE. There followed a period when any possible future of the canal seemed unlikely. The section west of Mullingar was allowed dry out and serious deterioration set in.
In 1974 a group of volunteers from the Inland Waterways Association of Ireland formed the Royal Canal Amenity Group which hoped to save the canal from complete destruction. Progress was achieved and in 1986 the canals were transferred from CIE to The Office of Public Works to be developed as a public amenity. By 1990 a length of seventy four kilometres of canal, from the 12th lock in Blanchardstown to Mullingar, re-opened for navigation. In 2000 the canal was taken over by Waterways Ireland, a new cross-border body, charged with administering Ireland’s Inland navigations. On October 1st 2010 the whole length of the canal was formally re-opened and is now enjoyed by people from all walks of life.
The Royal Canal Geotrail
I have envisioned a Geocaching trail, hence a Geotrail starting at Lock 10 in Ashtown, going ALL the way to Mullingar Harbour.
PLEASEEEEE only use your initials. Please rehide it just as you found it.
* HAPPY CACHING*
Yer_Man