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Boyne canal restoration

  • 27-09-2014 10:33pm
    #1
    Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 6,320 Mod ✭✭✭✭


    Today I arranged to spend some time with the guys working on the Boyne Canal restoration https://www.facebook.com/bnbiwai these are the unsung hero's of what will one day be another amazing stretch of Irelands canal system.The entrance to the work site is across this all stone horseshoe bridge in Staleen, Donore, Co Meath it's almost like a wormhole that brings you back in time once crossed.

    10418284_10201619538448627_2625779364188904467_n.jpg?oh=e33c9d64319ff3bb18fe18ea625d884b&oe=55B54B0A&__gda__=1434346869_21a330505929b8bbd96866be2344c87d

    As you would expect across the bridge there is no phone signal and the only sound you can hear is water flowing over the weir from the Boyne across the field and the blowing of a deer in the distance.


    1507065_10201619536608581_7103753765792669118_n.jpg?oh=9b5961d16e0518ba2874a42df81e3317&oe=55ACB464

    The landscape is unchanged from the days that a canal worker would have stood here back when it was being build and by the look of the mounds many thousand's of years before that.


    10703763_10201619586889838_4888678784257416063_n.jpg?oh=12486e26d37b266641aefe7f08ef0263&oe=55AB28AB&__gda__=1437729055_4950c6ff7a9f38f90008ace9f55f8245

    The day was spent cleaning out the old joints in the stone work and repointing it more or less the same way that it would have been done back in 1748.



    1654019_10201619538568630_6645294263924226650_n.jpg?oh=702a0e76556181d4a561b0c1da4047a3&oe=5577ACE7&__gda__=1433689997_28e1ab4af7c9c5a15ce0b61eba2a960c

    Hopefully one day I will travel along here by boat maybe even a boat or barge of the time.


    10672336_10201619537408601_7797264006123777739_n.jpg?oh=08a28f31f3597724686c5babe9830d44&oe=557C50EA


    The lock walls look in very good condition for their age almost like they were frozen in time waiting for the water to return and fill them up. Hopefully the won't be charged for it :)

    10533103_10201619537768610_1154520222535722518_n.jpg?oh=52c7401731b0388f762e6336001bc206&oe=55B6BCD2



    The Boyne sits patiently at the entrance to the lock gates waiting to welcome back a new generation long forgotten travellers.


    1620410_10201619752773985_3128285700617905746_n.jpg?oh=2161e02911c91ce5a66ac4fba7050e28&oe=557EBC99&__gda__=1434405577_509032ad76c91019646087c5bbb28295

    Even in the state it's in there is a magical feel about this place, today it was like autumn and spring wrapped up in midsummer sunshine with the smell of a cold winters morning in a time that could be anytime.


    10671274_10201619537608606_4993304504341381135_n.jpg?oh=e58dbba978a6b20e9837b4102e4ece1a&oe=55AF1BEC


Comments

  • Registered Users Posts: 22,746 ✭✭✭✭The Hill Billy


    Nice one. I only discovered that there was a canal up there last weekend. I walked along a stretch near the Battle of the Boyne site. It was beautiful.


  • Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 6,320 Mod ✭✭✭✭fergal.b


    It is a little gem alright, they have already done some great work from the seagate up to the first lock that I hope to take a little boat trip on in the near future :)


    20140923_113609.jpg


  • Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 6,320 Mod ✭✭✭✭fergal.b


    Crossing the bridge again this weekend to join the work party.

    10514644_10201702934933487_3326129759619762206_n.jpg?oh=3bdea928583b48787812e74f42264c26&oe=55BD455F

    The colours of autumn alongside the lock keepers house.

    10730823_10201702933813459_4115850934949228482_n.jpg?oh=1c49e20aecf75f69dbba811a46e4b23d&oe=55B7262D&__gda__=1434494267_d355be4d8a1941efb5ec903962f80310

    The canal bed is more like an jungle garden fighting to take control.

    1779068_10201702959814109_206590944100403512_n.jpg?oh=08d8e9909f9f6bd8d0f93771540cc6fa&oe=55AB46BE

    In a way it seems a shame to get rid of what nature created and replace it with something man made but at least it won't be a parking lot.


    10686612_10201702933493451_127387480608155647_n.jpg?oh=85c80a1bcbfea8f9fda95799242d940b&oe=55B96B16&__gda__=1438408316_460b208f0d6b99249678aa3f775ae3ee
    The ironmongery of the old lock gate plays paper scissor stone with nature.


    10560269_10201702935893511_8569812565344219925_o.jpg
    A little walk along the towpath to the Boyne as the mist starts to lift.

    10730909_10201702958694081_1196281483041359320_n.jpg?oh=5fecc7cc81323010363a849ea4eb2fa2&oe=55AE5578

    Great web reception down here.

    1555289_10201702935533502_4950755008598056048_n.jpg?oh=b2b984905c8a8700c13ae55baff76870&oe=55AAB7BE&__gda__=1437746926_5c755ab22ef79caa6e508705aaf27771

    The Iwai Boyne Navigation Branch :)


    1000268_10201702935413499_1682399752541343432_n.jpg?oh=3b721310601c57420aaed41c1e21e392&oe=55780027
    Dark forrest.

    10734206_10201702960494126_1843470213925946529_n.jpg?oh=fe1aeceae29f67cfb5717d5003b3aaf7&oe=55ACCECF

    I was told to do a bit more pointing to the wall so thats what I did I stood here and pointed.


    10675736_10201702959294096_6690189896228814842_n.jpg?oh=2490e4738b41e955d6d1767a321e03df&oe=55AE4DCF&__gda__=1437816730_6732fe0cb3f1082c1166572d276e01c9

    As the mist burned away the rest of the work party arrived.


    10003529_10201702936333522_8597909311289819837_n.jpg?oh=d12a4a3266e42efae72becb8ef0ffdcd&oe=55778A9B&__gda__=1437645310_672e97d821fa2e8af28f5cb668c20461

    I did manage to find an old boat that needed restoring.

    1896953_10201703151138892_8192390795129482990_n.jpg?oh=2a87b7a278b4ba18512850b63f571618&oe=5572D11C

    It is like some sort of medieval killing machine used to chop the weedy legs of anyone that came near it.The prop is also used as a mincemeat machine.

    10411746_10201702931293396_377152098721828665_n.jpg?oh=334dd95ca67038743743466d4bb00474&oe=55BBD9E8

    So I think I'll pass on this one and let nature have her way with it.

    1601417_10201703152378923_9103267515280203287_n.jpg?oh=71243b33b0bb6e7a71c412d5c6142b74&oe=55ACE52C


  • Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 6,320 Mod ✭✭✭✭fergal.b


    This weekend we did a bit of a clean up at the sea lock, after all the rain we had last week there was a lot of debris about.

    20141122_103725_zpsea9eyjkj.jpg

    20141122_105313_zpswojnpale.jpg

    20141122_105319_zpsi7a6mj3l.jpg

    It was nice to see some kayakers out and about and they welcomed the chance to go through the gates.

    20141122_111008_zpsclfultlw.jpg

    20141122_111021_zpsghcgdypr.jpg

    20141122_105328_zpsznrny1fi.jpg


  • Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 6,320 Mod ✭✭✭✭fergal.b


    A little video from yesterday on the Boyne canal.




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  • Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 6,320 Mod ✭✭✭✭fergal.b


    These are photos of a slipway which was laided on behalf of Meath Co. Co. exactly at Pass, Co. Meath/ Co. Louth border. It is located not far from The Sealock/ Tiernan's Lock - Lock 1 of the Boyne Navigation (upstream). Photos taken after the 25/04/2015 workday. This is just reestabilishing a slipway that was in the same locate many years ago.

    21700_532397506899513_3528352101964607282_n.jpg?oh=48eb38fd3022e2d0c0fb059de4d3fc6b&oe=55CD41DD


    11200587_532397513566179_6183110353218564069_n.jpg?oh=08cf46ec4a0811e1332a94a2d3798164&oe=55C1B83A&__gda__=1439882626_6eea20160356b6d38ac8755b37d95634


    11008465_532397556899508_3947678546488067482_n.jpg?oh=904ddd94c17c5488e9f3f9185e125f6a&oe=560D780A&__gda__=1443617411_b080b6e3eaff115dfa6ca872d2315430


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