April to July 2012. Update on our route on the Waterway Maps of Ireland.

In 2012 we left Enniskillen in April and went to the south through Upper Lough Erne.Turning westwards, we then crossed over to the Shannon on the Shannon-Erne Waterway. At Leitrim it was a detour to the north to visit Lough Allen. We missed this desolate, but attactive, lough last year as the weather was never suitable when we were passing. Next it was on to Lough Key, with a visit to Boyle again, before continuing on down The River Shannon.

Our original plan this year was to go on to The Royal Canal at Richmond Harbour, and do a there and back trip along the Royal, but not go into Dublin. However there was currently a water shortage on the summit level of the Royal Canal, so it was closed to navigation. Because of this we headed on southwards, through Lough Ree, with a trip up the River Inny and on past Athlone. At Shannon Harbour we joined the Grand Canal to go eastwards towards Dublin, planning to turn back at lock 12, and then go to see the River Barrow, before returning along the Grand Canal to the Shannon. We managed to go down the River Barrow for about a third of its length before having to turn back, due to too much water in the river. The plan now is to complete the Grand Canal to Dublin, then return to the Shannon on the Royal Canal.

4th July. Up The River Barrow on high water! Back up The Barrow Line to The Fisherman's Thatched Inn at Fisherstown.

We walked across to see the weir at Milford. The lock cut leaves the river just above the weir, going off to the left, at the top left of this picture.

The Strong Stream Mill at Milford generates electricity and this town was the first in Ireland to have electricity, because of this. There is certainly a strong stream here, below the weir!

We were still safely above Milford lock but the river level was rising so we conferred with the lockkeeper. More rain being forecast, he contacted his supervisor for permission for us to return immediately up the river. He felt that our engine was powerful enough to do this so that we could reach the safety of the canal. We had to go down the lock to turn round, with a strong hand on the front rope to help.

Once below the lock, Andy took the stern out to catch the current.

Two seconds later, he was heading back into Milford lock, feeling rather giddy at the speed of the turn!

We reached the lock at Carlow safely, although on narrow parts of the river we were barely reaching two mph against the strong current. Above the lock can be seen the weir.

Instead of crossing in front of the island, above the weir, as boats would do on lower water levels, we are going straight ahead behind the island. This is only possible because the water is so high. Do click on this picture to see the normal navigation channel, which goes in front of the island across the weir!

The Puzzzler only just managed to squeeze through this low arch of the bridge. The bows were then stuck in some reeds, but a friendly passerby came to help our invaluable lockkeeper push us out. As we crossed above the bridge to regain the navigation channel, Andy found that we were not making a lot of headway, due to weed picked up by the bridge. He managed to get across and we got a line to our lockkeeper on the bank, before we disappeared back downstream towards the bridge! Having removed the weed we were fit to carry on.

We are now passing the point where we were stuck on a sandbank, only two days ago. The sandbank is in front of the island, and extends out quite a long way. Our rope went from the boat to the wall on the left, beyond the steps, where our lockkeeper had his van to pull us off.

Some cattle were paddling through the swirling water on the edge of the river. It seemed a risky game they were playing, but then, the grass is always greener!

We were glad to return up through Levitstown lock and know that it was not so far to go on the river.

Crossing above the weir beyond Levitstown's long lock cut was the next hazard to overcome, but that too went well. I was going to take a photo of the weir at Athy as we passed it, but there was too much water for us to see where it was!

The evening clouds welcomed us back on to the Barrow Line. We have never been more pleased to reach any canal! Our trip up from Milford took us seven hours to complete at an average speed of two miles an hour.

There was a lovely sunset, with the rays shining down from the clouds. We continued on up the Barrow Line to Fisherstown, for a last visit to see Old Sean at the Fisherman's Thatched Inn. He is a wonderful landlord in a very special pub. After that we returned for drinks next door, with a lovely family from Capetown, who had arrived at the mooring earlier that evening in their boat.

30th June - 3rd July 2012. The Barrow Line to Athy. River Barrow to Carlow, adventures on a sandbank, then on to Milford.

We spent the next three days at Levitstown catching up on jobs and walking locally. This shrine was just beside the canal at Tankardstown Bridge.

Below Levitstown Lock the rails and landing stage have appeared once more above the river level. We have measured the height of the water here daily and, after rising over two feet on Thursday and Friday, it has at last dropped again to a safe level for navigation. All of this jetty and walkway was under water when the level was right up.

The river is still running quite fast, particularly where it narrows to flow around islands. The chart shows us which side of the river it is safe to go. We must keep to the left, or east, bank until we reach Carlow.

On the approach to Maganey Lock we have to make sure that we keep well to the left. On slowing down nearer to the lock, the pull of the weir can definitely be felt.

The Barrow is a wider river than we were expecting. There are less trees in the next stretch.

It is pleasantly calm in the lock cut approaching Bestfield Lock, away from the river current.

Carlow is the first town on the Barrow since Athy. This footbridge is new since the canal guide was published.

In Carlow we know that we have to turn right after the town bridge. After the footbridge we see moorings to our right and head towards them, then realise that we should still be on the left bank, as we have not yet reached the main town bridge. We turn left to go to the east of the island, but the current is too strong and it is too late! We end up sitting on the sandbank which lies in front of the island, and which is not shown on any chart. After a few false starts, with the young fishermen telling us exactly how big this sandbank is, our lockkeeper appears back from the lock, where he had been waiting for us. 
Mini Puzzle to the rescue! We launch our faithful dinghy, find all the ropes that we can, and Sally sets off for the far bank, to take this line to the lockkeeper and his van. This first try was a failure, partly because it was Sally's first attempt at steering Mini Puzzle, so she did not go very straight, and also because we did not have enough rope on the line! The current was very strong which did not help either. At the second attempt we had added the thin nylon washing line, and Andy managed to get across with it. There was still not enough rope to reach the van so the anchor rope was also deployed, and Andy came back by dinghy to rejoin The Puzzler. Eventually, we were pulled free and reached the east bank safely. What a relief! Being stuck on a sandbank with the river level dropping would not be very safe at all.

The town bridge at Carlow is the lowest bridge on The River Barrow, but we are not too high so it was no problem. Immediately after the bridge the navigation turns sharply right, and we cruise along the top of the unguarded weir.

It is a relief to get past the weir and safely into Carlow lock.

The run into Clogreggan, the next lock on the river, is particularly pretty.

The river opens out again below Clogreggan.

We can see hills over to the west of the river.

There is a narrow cutting through the trees to Milford Lock. As boats should leave red markers to their right and green markers to their left, there must be some thin boats going under this bridge!

We are moored above Milford Lock. We cannot go any further down the Barrow at the moment as there is a tree stuck in the river under the bridge at Leighlinbridge. The water level also came up by 11" overnight, and is once again not safe to navigate. This is certainly a different waterway to any other we have visited.

25th - 29th June 2012. The Barrow line to Athy. River Barrow to Levitstown lock

We stayed at Fisherstown for four more days, going to the Fishersman Thatched Inn on Tuesday again for the Irish music. By Thursday morning, Noel, the lockkeeper at Athy, told us that the water levels were dropping in the River Barrow so, despite early rain, we set off. The next village is Vicarstown, where a small fleet of hire boats is based. The boats here are much tidier than those at Sallins or Hazelhatch.

The turnover bridge at Vicarstown has a stainless steel rail on the parapet, presumably so that any horse ropes will run along it smoothly!

The weather is improving further down the Barrow Line.

However the clouds behind us are still a bit threatening.

At the end of the Barrow line we reach the town of Athy. We pass through Athy as quickly as we can, and drop down lock 28 on to the river. Here we have to steer straight across the Barrow, so as to join the lock cut on the far side of the weir.

 The weir is just beyond the three right hand arches of the railway bridge, with the navigation channel to the lock cut being through the left arch. There is certainly quite a lot of water in the river.

Even in the lock cut it is important to keep to the left, as more water flows back into the main river.

Mud on the banks show how high the water level has been recently.

As horses are not usually allowed on the grassy towpath, we were surprised to see this trotter.

The lifting bridge soon before Levitstown is quite unusual.

It is raised horizontally by winding it up with a windlass.

We moored in the reeds above Levitstown lock, opposite Levitstown Mill. There are two other boats moored here behind us, but there is no-one aboard either of them.

This area of water above the lock is a real millpond, with superb reflections!

We measured the height of the water level below the lock last night. This morning we returned to see how much it had risen overnight, but could not reach the same spot as it was under water! Last time Sally measured it by the fourth upright. The water level has risen by about 16" here, while above the lock it has come up by only 9".

We will stay here above Levitstown lock until the water level goes down again.

Our feathered neighbours are mostly asleep just now!

11th - 12th June 2012. The Barrow Line to Fisherstown. Live music at The Fisherman's Thatched Inn.

Glorious weather today. There are a lot of horses watching us cruise down the Barrow Line.

At staircase lock 24 there is a bridge over part of the lower chamber.

In Monasterevin the old wharves have been opened up again to make very attractive moorings at Bell Harbour.

The lift bridge in Monasterevin is always operated by the lockkeeper.

We have now completed 14 miles of the Barrow line so we are half way to Athy. We had hoped to carry on there to join the River Barrow, but the lockkeeper has told us that it is currently closed to navigation, due to high water levels. We are crossing the Barrow on the aqueduct in Monasterevin, and can see the problem! This aqueduct was built in the 1820s.

Before the lock at Monasterevin the canal turns left as we pass the old entrance to the Mountmellick Branch, which is now derelict. It too was constructed in the 1820s, and originally it was to continue to the Castlecomer coal fields. However it was only ever 11 miles long and finished at Mountmellick. It was officially closed to navigation in 1960.

We met a weed cutter, which is a weird looking, but efficient craft. There is very little weed left on this stretch.

The Barrow Line is generally more attractive than The Grand Canal, but is still a bit too straight at times!

Fisherstown Bridge is being repointed at the moment. This work on the canals is contracted out by Waterways Ireland, though all work around the locks is done by the lockkeepers.

We moored at Fisherstown, just through the bridge. It is a delightful place, with a few charming houses along the road, on the other side of the bridge.

After seven years of hard work, the front fender was in need of repair, so Sally again used the coir rope found earlier this summer.

Once it has been painted with blacking, then its renovation is complete.It can go back once it is dry!

We walked down to see the River Barrow, which is about three quarters of a mile from Fisherstown bridge. On Monday evening it was nearly up to the old road. There used to be a bridge over the river here, which is shown in the 1999 edition of the Ireland's Inland Waterways canal guide for the Barrow Line. However, we are told by the pub landlord that it was taken down in about 1540. The local shop and garage shown have also gone, but comparatively recently. They were there until only about ten years ago. He said that there's out of date, and also out of date!

Next day John and Brigitte arrived, and we went down to the river again in the evening, to see how much water there was. This picture was taken from the same spot! The level had gone down quite a lot so we are hoping it will soon be open to navigation.

That night we went up to the pub, the Fisherman's Thatched Inn for music, which began at ten-ish. It was actually 10.40 when it started.

There is music here every Tuesday night and we can certainly recommend a visit. As well as the musicians, two other men sang Irish songs. They each dedicated the songs to their new friends from Norfolk, which made us feel very welcome.

We have never visited a more interesting pub, with so much memorabilia to see. It was Old Sean, the landlord's, 71st birthday, so at midnight the chocolate cake was brought out for everyone to share, and drinks were on the house! It was a great evening!

Andy and John particularly enjoyed the Guiness, while Brigitte and Sally  just had a good time.