Grand Canal 200 : Celebrating the 200th Anniversary of Ireland's Grand Canal

Ireland's Grand Canal was 200 years old in 2007. This DVD was developed to celebrate the past and showcase the present use of the canal. A short illustrated view to give boaters, walkers, canoeists, cyclists and all the communities who live along side its winding banks, an insight into how and why the canal was built and still exists today: while it was all hard work then, now its purely for fun!

[@29brendus]

I can't imagine Dublin without both the Royal and Grand Canals. I often cycle along the Royal Canal from Blanchardstown to Hart's Corner, and it is soothing. Me mate got drunk one night, 40 years ago, and fell into the canal at Baggot St. as he tried to walk a lock, but he got himself out. Pure history.

[@oldtimeycabins]

I am American. I’ve been lucky enough to visit Ireland 5x. Each time, I walk the Grand Canal from Dublin to Naas. It is my tir na nog.

[@jameskershaw6397]

I HAVE FISHED THE GRAND CANAL OVER 40 YEARS NOW AND STILL DO ,ME AND MY FRIENDS FROM BALYFERMOT USE THE CANAL TO GO FOR WALKS AND GET OUT AND ABOUT ,WE MEET BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE WALKING ,CYCLING AND FISHING EVERY DAY ,,..GREAT VIDEO IRISH WATERWAYS IRELAND .

[@14derwerner]

Beautiful! As a Dutchman living in Dublin, Portobello, I am completely in love with Ireland's stunning waterways!

[@LittleBird787]

I'm Croatian living in Dublin,I love Grand Canal it's so beautiful :)

[@jenniferjuniper97]

Beautiful waterways, enchanting country. I visited Lock 16 near Leitrim finished in 1848 when my ancestors lived in Carrick. The lockmaster was informative and showed me how to use the convenient electronic card to operate the lock myself. I guess that part of the system is called the Erne Waterway? Do you have any books on the waterway and road projects at the time of the Great Hunger? The waterway seems to have been a huge success that employed many people- perhaps my own ancestors.

[@waterwaysireland]

Noel, thank you for your comment. There are upgrade works planned for the towpaths on the Grand and Royal Canal. They will be done section by section as resources allow. Have you tried the Barrow Navigation towpath for walking or cycling?-Its is a very different experience being in a valley, but the wooded surroundings and the pretty villages make for a lovely journey.

[@noelhogan]

Cycled it this year from Dublin to Shannon Harbour - please try and upgrade the towpaths, it would be great, very bumpy and rough at present.

[@looneyirish007]

buy a full suspension bike, i did they royal canal in 2009 end to end in 8 hours, it was very hard work in parts and that in parts doesnt have a tow path

[@patdoyle3686]

People, should be allowed live on Canals Again it would cut down on housing crisis there would be lots Of work for barge makers n new communities on the working canals once more plenty of work for all Goverments should give grants and get this going its also great for the environment

[@themadfarmer5207]

Waterways Ireland do very little to encourage anyone to have a live aboard on the canals. Pump out stations are very few and far between on canals. The whole focus now for canals is walkers, cycling, wildlife, fish and fauna. Water levels seem to be problem on some stretches, and environment activists object to weed cutting

[@leonrooney]

were could i get a copy of the picture at 4.21 its my hometown iv never seen it before

[@waterwaysireland]

Hi Richard I will ask our archivist and come back to you. Its either ours, loaned to us or in the National Archives so shouldn't be hard to track down.