Volunteers complete work on Errina Canal

The Lough Derg Branch of the Inland Waterways Association of Ireland (IWAI) and the O’Briensbridge Community Development Group have recently completed the first stage of a project to re-establish access to the first lock on the Errina Canal.

Over a number of weekends, volunteers removed fallen trees and other debris from a two kilometre section of the canal. Access to the bridge is now possible at normal water levels by open boat. Work on the project has now been suspended for the duration of the bird-breeding season but will recommence in the autumn.
The purpose of the project is to improve access to the canal as an amenity for waterway users and also to increase awareness of the canal and highlight its long term potential for restoration and re-integration into the Shannon Navigation while also reconnecting O’Briensbridge and Castleconnell to the main line of the Shannon Navigation from Killaloe to Limerick.
IWAI Lough Derg Branch chairperson, Clare Jordan said the canal and bank looped walks offer a fantastic tourism resource for the villages of O’Briensbridge, Montpellier, Castleconnell and Clonlara.
“The Errina Canal was built in the mid to late 18th century as part of a scheme to bring navigation from Killaloe to Limerick. Beset with many problems over its life, it fell into disuse after it was by-passed by the Ardnacrusha scheme in the 1920s but remains largely intact though in poor repair,” she said.
The two groups also want more people to use the walking routes along the old towing-paths. The towing-paths are open at two ends from the canal harbour in Limerick via Plassey to Gillogue and although the Black Bridge is still closed, walkers can cross by the university’s road bridge. Walking enthusiasts can also travel from Clonlara to O’Briensbridge and up to Parteen Villa Weir using the looped walks.
They have requested Waterways Ireland to make the section between Gillogue and Clonlara open to all walkers as a route from Limerick City to O’Briensbridge.
Last year O’Briensbridge Community Group hosted a group of canal enthusiasts (IWPS) from England who had successfully restored an old canal basin at Bugsworth in the Peak District near Manchester.
They walked from Limerick to O’Briensbridge and their chairman, Ian Edgar, said that the stonework of the Plassey–Errina canal was in very good condition.
“I’m gob-smacked with this canal, it should be regarded as a national treasure,” he said.