WATERWAYS Ireland has started to excavate and reline 410m of the Royal Canal between Lock Six and Seven in the Phibsborough/Cabra area. The work is key to keeping the canal navigable for boats and will also address seepage through the embankment adjacent to Shandon Gardens.
The canal is now closed to navigation and work is due for completion by year end. A traffic management plan agreed with Dublin City Council will ensure disruption is kept to a minimum.
From Lock Six to the Liffey Junction Bridge and the Shandon Park area, the towpath will also be closed and a temporary roadway and bridge constructed to provide access for the Coke Oven residents through Shandon Park.
Dewatering of the canal will remove sediment and rubbish from the central navigation channel before construction of a new impervious lining.
All material removed will be transported to licensed disposal facilities and restoration of the existing towpath walls will be to heritage standards.
Environmental surveys are in full compliance with the regulatory authorities regarding the removal of fish.
Visit waterwaysireland.org and the Navigation Information, Planned Works page.
It was great to see two junior anglers take pole positions at the Kieran Lynn Memorial fly fishing competition on Lough Conn last weekend. Along with Irish Times angling partner Denis Coghlan and 35 seasoned anglers, we did our utmost to raise a trout or two without much success.
Staying at the splendid Pontoon Bridge Hotel, we fished out from Gilaroo Bay with top boatman Kieran Connolly and tested the hot-spots, including Wilson’s Rock, Poteen Bay and Glass Island. Denis did manage to boat two undersized fish and I turned a definite keeper.
Back at Murphy’s Bar in Lahardane, we were treated to a lovely meal, followed by presentation of prizes by proprietor Michael Murphy. Top prize of €500 and perpetual cup for heaviest fish of 0.542kg, went to youth international Ryan Binley. Niamh Lynn (aged 12) scooped heaviest bag hamper prize with three fish for 1.248kg. A total of 13 fish of more than 13in weighed in.
Delphi Lodge in Leenane, Co Galway, will host a mushroom hunt and woodland forage this Friday until Sunday. Mycologist Maria Cullen will search for woodland fungi while Declan Little, project manager of Woodlands of Ireland, will outline the history of woodland development.
Two nights all-in is €395pp. Tel: 095-42222, delphilodge.ie
For the third time in four years, Screaming Reels from Rosie’s sea angling club in Cork has won the Rosslare Small Boats competition. The event was sponsored by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI), Fáilte Ireland, Daiwa Sports UK and Sea Angler magazine.
Weather was extremely challenging, restricting the four-day competition to three, but for the 100 anglers from Isle of Wight, Southport, Liverpool, Blackpool, Scotland, Wales and Ireland, collectively they managed to record 33 species.
The prize fund of €14,000 included fishing equipment, monetary prizes and engraved trophies. Results: 1, Screaming Reels, 26 species, 31.16kg; 2, Nirvana, 26 sp, 19.20kg; 3, Rogie’s Girl, 24 sp, 19.88kg.
Josie Mahon, IFI Inspector, said: “It is important not only to promote the great sea fishing we have on the east coast but also the investment it brings to the local businesses in the area.”
Next year’s event will be held from September 8th-15th. Further details, tel: 01-2787022 or josie.mahon@inlandfisheriesireland.ie.
angling@irishtimes.com