Litir Chumhdaigh
Responding as a visitor to Kildare and a regular boater on Kildare Canals
RE O95 Canal Heritage - Key Opportunities.
The oldest piece of the Eastern Canals is in Kildare. Between 1756 and 1759, Thomas Omer and thousands of men designed and dug out a navigation channel using stone from Golierstown Quarry. It stretched two miles west and eight miles east of Sallins through some bog and with six bridges and three locks, it was complete by 1763. It was some years later when work started on the Dublin end of the Grand, and not until 1779 that it was joined up with the Sallins stretch.
RE O137 Progress delivery of Sallins to Naas to Corbally Greenway and develop Corbally Harbour: When the large silt build up in the harbour (the island) is removed, this will make an ideal space for boat and barge moorings. It will also be a tourist destination for those boating, cycling and walking between Sallins and Corbally; with picnic tables positioned in the large area to the south, it will be an ideal stopover for refreshments when the Greenway reaches here from Naas and further south to Newbridge, Athgarvan and Kilcullen. There are several business opportunities here – hiring kayaks, canoes and bicycles, barge trips between Naas and Corbally Harbour, refreshments and tourist information.
RE O155 Circular Boating Route: The Green and Silver Route is 356 km long with a total of 93 locks. It is a spectacular boating experience through urban and rural waterways commemorating an original journey made back in 1946. The engineering challenges faced by the builders of the Grand and Royal Canals over 220 years ago is striking; they built aqueducts, lifting and swivel bridges, single and double locks, harbours and succeeded in creating canals through the bog.
RD A1 Peatways: Kildare County Council’s wish to regenerate old routes on water and land for recreation use is to be commended – another way to encourage locals and visitors biking, boating and walking to explore the Kildare countryside and its attractions.
AH O40 Enhancements to Canals: When these enhancements to structures and features on both canals take place, consideration needs to be given to the passage of boats to ensure they can travel and moor on the navigation safely.
Bog Connections: I applaud KCC’s desire to regenerate old routes on water and land for recreational use and as a way to welcome people to the Kildare countryside to visit its attractions. The ceasing of commercial activities and the re-wetting of the Bogs to reduce carbon emissions, is great for our planet. There is also be an opportunity to improve people’s health by providing places for outdoor activities and eco-friendly small homes on the waterways.
Creating moorings on the canal and safe connections across the bogs at Lullymore/Lodge, would encourage people walking, cycling and boating to visit the Lullymore Centre.
Moorings and facilities on the Barrow Line at Ummeras, north of Monasterevin, would encourage people to visit Ummeras Park and provide a site for tourists and eco-friendly small homes.
Ticknevin as a boating destination would encourage to stay and enjoy the rural setting and visit the nearby town of Edenderry.
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LR O39 Bog Trails & Connections: I welcome the re-use of former commercial bogs as not just a way of lowering carbon emissions from this island, but also as a way to provide healthy recreation for our citizens. Another way to encourage locals and visitors to explore the Kildare countryside and its attractions when biking, boating and walking
LR O51 Naas to Newbridge Greenway: Extending the Grand Canal Greenway to Corbally Harbour is a welcome initiative; an extension for the people of Naas and Sallins but also by joining up with a Newbridge Greenway, a recreational facility for the people of Newbridge, Kilcullen and Athgarvan
LR O52 Naas to Corbally Canal: The extension to Corbally Harbour with moorings, slipways, cafe and a service block, will create an ideal tourist destination for those navigating Kildare Canals and encourage people to stay awhile and explore the amenities available to visitors in Kildare. It will also encourage local people to set up small businesses hiring kayaks and canoes, and providing barge trips and refreshments.
LR A11 Redevelop Disused Lines: Kildare County Council’s wish to upgrade old routes on water and land for recreation use is excellent – another way to encourage locals and visitors biking, boating and walking to explore the Kildare countryside and its attractions.
Page 36 Landscape Character Assessment: Thank you KCC for ensuring Wind Farms do not impinge on the waterways in Kildare and for taking into consideration the views across the River Barrow, Grand Canal and Royal Canal in Kildare.