Canal reclaims its place at the centre of community life

The re-opening of the complete Royal Canal network between Dublin and Longford next month is historic for two reasons: firstly, because for the first time since it fell into disrepair in the 1970s, the canal will be almost completely navigable, and secondly, because the grand re-opening on September 30 marks an historic victory for the Royal Canal Amenity Group (RCAG), who have fought tooth and nail to have the Leinster waterway restored to its former grandeur.The canal - which flows from Dublin to Clondra, Co. Longford through Kildare, Meath and areas in Westmeath such as Kinnegad, Killucan, Mullingar and Ballynacargy - was built between 1790 and 1827, to accommodate freight and passenger transportation from the Liffey to the Shannon.Steeped in history, the canal became a veritable dumping ground in some areas during the 1970s, and its navigability was ruined after local authorities introduced culverts at various sections of the waterway.In 1974, the RCAG was set up to call a halt to the destruction of this national amenity, and has kept the pressure on successive governments to ensure that the canal is restored to its original state.Over the years, the canal was partially restored for navigation, and on September 30, years of work, and indeed reversals of previous mistakes made by the authorities, will see this east-west artery returned to its former glory.The launch of Barge No. 3 this weekend is the first step in tapping into the tourism and cultural potential of the canal.“It’s been a long haul, to get to this point,” said RCAG’s Colm Dardis, who has cherished childhood memories of the canal. “It’s been a gradual process over the past 36 years.“We were founded in Clonsilla in 1974, at a time when communities along the canal were struggling to keep their own end of the canal from dying away.”Colm, who is a past chairman of the RCAG, said that the group endured “a constant struggle” in getting various authorities on board over the years.In the early 1970s, the canal, especially in the Dublin area, became a dumping ground for rubbish and old cars, and at one stage, it was suggested that the section of the canal in inner Dublin be redeveloped to become a multi-lane road.Culverts were installed at several points along the canal, for example, in Longford and at the Dublin Bridge in Mullingar.But the RCAG joined up with communities along the waterway in the mid-1970s to put pressure on local and national government to clean it up and have it restored.A turning point came in 1974, when then minister for local government, James Tully, reversed policy on the canal by intervening to ensure the installation of a bridge instead of a culvert at Kneadsbridge, outside Kinnegad.The culvert at the Dublin Bridge, Mullingar was replaced in recent years through the construction of the new bridge, and Colm said that change has “happened gradually” in Longford, to the point where the canal is almost fully navigable once again.The RCAG has assisted communities in organising various social events and community projects along the canal route over the years, such as the harbour development at Ballynacargy, and similar work at Abbeyshrule.“Over the years, when we all worked together, we helped to join the canal up again bit by bit,” said Colm, who lives outside Kinnegad.“Various promises were made along the way, and we were told that the canal would be fully re-opened in 1996.“1996 became 2000, 2000 became 2004, 2009, and here we are in 2010, and it’s finally going to happen.“It’s a great moment, and it’s going to be a wonderful amenity for everyone, canoers, nature lovers, anglers, tourists, or just people who want a day out.”With one or two issues to be resolved at the Dublin end of the canal, the entire waterway is expected to be ready for the annual passage of Barge No. 3, which launched at the weekend.The barge, which will feature a workshop and museum, will sail from Dublin to Longford each year, and is expected to draw plenty of interest from tourists and natives alike.“There’s a great social side to the canal, and there always has been,” Colm said. “It brings communities together, and this hopefully this barge will link all the communities along the route.”