shannon erne waterway

Work on the original canal started in 1846 and took 14 years to complete. The dream of permanently joining the great River Shannon and the Erne lakes was fulfilled and shattered in a short 9 years when the age of steam and the railways rendered the canal reduntant and it closed to commercial traffic. The leisure potential of re establishing the link has long recognised and since its official opening in 1994, many pleasure cruisers, barges, canoes and sailing dinghies now ply this old waterway where once infrequent barges made their shore lived commercial journeys. Exquisitely weaving together the streams, rivers and lakes which are picturesquely scattered between Leitrim Village and the Erne, the canal is a triumph of man's capacity to enhance the gifts of nature and turn them to splendid use. Sixteen automatic locks will ensure the waterway is viable and the variety of landscape and wildlife, as well as the great historical and archaeological sites en route, will guarantee the popularity of this superb liquid highway link. For the first time in 150 years 300km of navigable waterway can be enjoyed by those who love walking by water or sailing on beautiful inland waterways.