Tips on Travelling the Royal Canal by Boat.

Now that it is possible to enter and exit the Royal Canal from both ends many boaters will be looking forward to making a cruise through part or all of this historic route.

While the Guide to the Royal Canal is a vital document in terms of distances, locks, and services available in towns and villages along the way there are still topics left unanswered.

• “ Are there Lock-keepers” ?
• “ Where is safe to moor overnight” ?
• “ Where can I leave a boat for a few days” ?
• “ Where are there shops, eating places” ?

You can get a copy of the Guide to the Royal Canal from the IWAI shop.  The 1994 version of the guide is online in the form of a clickable map.  While obsolete in parts, it is useful for route planning.

The Navigation.

Dredging has been carried out in recent years , particularly on the western end so boats with a draught of 1 meter (plus) will have no problems. Nearer to Dublin there may be obstructions, particularly under bridges but these should not be a problem for most boats.

Standard Lock Key** (as used on Grand and Barrow) should be carried. Two locks - 16th (Kilcock) and 7th (Cabra) have padlocks fitted to all racks and need a WI lock-keeper to open.

The overall length of the Royal is 90 miles with 46 locks of which 10 are doubles. Of the 12 locks between Blanchardstown and Spencer Dock, eight are double so expect extra time to be spent here (6 – 7 hours)

Lock-keepers, Water Patrollers;

There are at present just 2 official Lock-keepers covering locks 1 to 26. However, WI have agreed to provide cover at other locks on a temporary basis for this year pending an assessment of the future needs. Contact the WI offices at Killucan or Ashtown gate as appropriate 48 hours before travelling.

• Offices ( Killucan 044-9374940) ( Ashtowngate 01-8680148)
• Paddy Dixon, Water patroller in Richmond Harbour 0879151400
• Des Philips Locks 1 to 17, phone 087-2485754
• Liam Croach Locks 18 to 26, phone 087-6182104
• Lock-keeper at Tarmonbarry – Liam Cox, 0879222020 if you wish to use the Lock to the Shannon.

The following Waterways Ireland Marine Notice gives the hours of attendance for Summer 2011 for locks 1-17:

Lifting Bridges;

• Begnagh Bridge (Road) between locks 43-44.  This requires WI staff to lift - contact Paddy Dixon, Water patroller in Richmond Harbour 0879151400
• Raleighs Farm Bridge. between The Downs and Mary Lynch's Pub - Normal height 2 meters but can be raised by hand.
• Railway Lifting Bridge (rail) At 1st Lock, Nt Strand Rd, Dublin - Will only be lifted on designated dates ( see dates on  http://dublin.iwai.ie/royal.html  )
• Spencer Bridge. (Sherriff St) Does not lift - Normal air draught here 2.4 meters – if your boat requires higher headroom you must advise WI in advance to have water level dropped.
• North Wall Bridge ( exit from Sea Lock to Liffey) - Clearance here depends on tide; it will not be possible to exit this lock for most boats for approx 2 hours either side of High Water on the Liffey (see Tide Tables for Dublin)

Sea Locks;

WI staff control both the Sea Locks from the Grand and Royal on to the Liffey. Contact; Mark Clarke 0872584713

Pump-outs.

There is but one on the Royal; at Twelfth Lock, Castleknock.

Mooring.

Boats using the Royal should hold an Annual Permit -Mooring and Locks or a Lock Permit to cover the distance to be covered. These are available from the WI offices or from Lock-keepers.

Overnight mooring is safe almost everywhere but you are advised not to stop overnight in the Harbours at Ballinacargy, Mullingar or Maynooth.

• In B'cargy moor above 35th Lock.
• In Mullingar at Pipers Boreen
• In Maynooth east of Mullen Bridge.

Longer Term mooring.

If you need to leave your boat unattended for any period there are a number of spots recommended;

• Dublin area - Twelfth Lock, Blanchardstown.
• Kilcock - 15th lock (The Maws) 1 mile from village
• Moyvalley - Fureys Pub
• Hill of Down
• Killucan - Thomastown Harbour
• Coralstown - Mary Lynchs Pub
• Coolnahay Harbour 6 miles west of Mullingar
• Abbeyshrule Harbour
• Clondra - Richmond Harbour

Food & Drink

While the larger towns are well provided with shops and restaurants some of the mooring places mentioned above are miles away from even a small grocery, i.e. Abbeyshrule, Coolnahay, Coralstown, Thomastown, Moyvalley. However, Abbeyshrule, Coralstown and Moyvalley have good eating places

Public Transport.

If you need to leave your boat and return to collect a car you will find that public transport (trains & buses) is quite good at most points between Dublin and Mullingar. West of Mullingar it is almost non-existant.

** Lock Keys and Permits may be bought at any WI office or from Lock-keepers.

Information collated by Derek Whelan.  
The information is provided in good faith and is believed correct at the time of publication. 
Corrections, additional information etc. welcomed.