A selection of books and maps (not for navigation) related to the Irish Inland Waterways
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67.M, The Story of a Barge by Charlie Dunn This beautifully bound 202pg book takes you through the 80 something year history of one of Irelands heritage barges. It covers the construction and history of the vessel as well as its life as a working boat and the men who lived and worked on her. Charlie's journey with 67.M began in 1992 and he walks you through his triumphs and challenges in an honest account of what its like to convert a heritage barge, sell it, and then buy it back again. This book contains many stories and tales of times gone by as well as some of the practical knowledge Charlie has gained over the years. A comprehensive history of one boats journey on the Inland Waterways. Book is a hardback leather bound, A4 size -
Historic Killaloe - A Guide to its Antiquities by Sean Kierse. First published 1983, this edition 2001. A short guide to the built heritage of the Historic Town of Killaloe and it's environs including St Flannan's Cathederal, Kincora and the Graves of the Leinstermen. 46 Pages, Fully illustrated in B&W with colour cover. 210 x 146 x 3mm. -
IRELAND'S GRAND CANAL : People, Peat & Porter is the first in a new series of "Studies from our Waterways" from the Heritage Boat Association. It is based on a dissertation written by Eunice Jeffers. It looks at canal development in general and the Grand Canal in particular and covers the history of one canal boat in particular which was in the Jeffers family for a time. It also looks at the lives of some of the people associated with the boat and the canal. Copiously illustrated, it contains some images from the Shortall collection. Full colour, paperback, 40pages. -
An illustrated guide to Lough Ree which includes photos, maps, water depths and handy tips to both common and off the beaten track moorings. First Published in 2018 by Pat McManus -
Few people today are aware of the history of organised yachting on the north Shannon on Lough Allen, Lough Key, Lough Drumharlow, Lough Boderg, Lough Bofin and Lough Forbes. Between 1896 and 1929 there was a prosperous yacht club in the north Shannon in which the landlords and professional classes who were residents of Counties Roscommon, Leitrim and Longford enjoyed time on the lakes. The club had a major influence on the creation of the Shannon one-design. This book is the definitive history of the club, warts and all. The North Shannon Yacht Club by Vincent Delany describes the history of the Club in the latter part of the 19th century and the early years of the 20th century. Drawing on the Delany family archives, interviews with descendants of those involved and newspaper articles the book describes the events that took place under the flag of the club, the people involved and also lists many of the vessels involved. 82 pages with some colour images.230 x 152 x 7mm. Published by Vincent Delany. -
Round Ireland by Slow Boat by Richard Kennedy is a captivating and entertaining story of a sailing voyage taken by Richard and Rita Kennedy on their yacht Seachran. Starting from Rossaveal in Connemara, they undertake a leisurely circumnavigation of Ireland to fulfill a long-standing resolve. Intended to be a 10 week journey, fate and circumstance allowed Rita and Richard to turn the trip into a 5 month voyage over two summers. Throughout the trip, Richard kept a detailed diary which became the basis for this book. Paperback, 261 pages plus 16 pages of colour photos. 157 x 234 x 20mm. Published by Throughthechair Publishing. -
In 2019, Gwen Wilkonson set herself the challange of building a canoe and paddlng it the lenght of Ireland, along a network of inland waterways. Setting out from the shores of Lough Erne, she navigated a 400km journey to the tidal waters of the River Barrow in Ireland. More than just a travelogue, 'The Waters and the Wild' explores the interwoven histories of the people and wildlife that shaped Gwen's journey. From wild camping on deserted islands to drifting on lakes in the company of restless lapwings. This book invites the reader to share an intense engagment with the natural world. The charming text is accompanied by the authors own striking lino and woodcut prints, beautiful and thought provoking interpretations of the flora and fauna she observed on her travels. Gwen paddled to explore, searching for inspiration and a desire to learn more about the island we we inhabbit, and she was met with rich and illuminating experiances far beyond her expectations. -
(Photo Coming soon, having a problem uploading it) The late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries were a boom period for Irish waterways. HM Treasury had cash to burn and influential Irish MPs were keen to bring money home in the form of infrastructure investment. As navigation by waterway became faster and easier, new possibilities opened up: fresh eggs and bacon to Liverpool for breakfast, a ready supply of turf to Limerick to fuel the distillery, bogs drained for arable land, and fast comfortable trips to Kilkee to take the sea air. Based on a collection of the late Brian J Goggin's extensive research and writings on Irish waterways, this book tells the story of those improvements and of many diversions along the way: waterways which were never completed, debauchery in the canals of Dublin, cargoes stolen, workers on strike and boats sunk. This is a selection of what his family hope you will find to be interesting articles on interesting subjects, rather than a comprehensive history of Ireland's waterways. The book is a has a hardback cover with a paper slip. It measures 24.1 x 17 x 2.8cm -
In Wild Waterways by Robert O'Leary uses stunning photographs taken along the River Dodder,and informative text in Irish and English, to remind us of the beauty and diversity of Irish nature to be found along the Irish riverbank. Showcasing in glorious detail more than 50 species of birds, mammals and insects the call of the river or its environs home, his dazzling images remind us that your never too young, too old busy to "stand and stare" and reconnect with the natural world in its glory. -
Out of stock
First published in 1949, Green & Silver by L.T.C. Rolt describes a journey through the inland waterways of Ireland. He takes us over the mighty Shannon from the upper limit of navigation at the little village of Battlebridge, near Leitrim down to Lough Derg of the islands and storms. With him we travel on the Grand Canal across the curlew-haunted solitude's of the great Bog of Allen down to Dublin's Ringsend Docks and returning to the Shannon via the majestic Royal Canal. Rolt in his inimitable style paints a picture of an Ireland that has all but disappeared and very different to the Ireland of today. The Royal Canal closed a few short years after his journey and fell into a state of neglect and decay. However as a result of the Trojan efforts of some very dedicated people, the Royal Canal reopened to navigation in late 2010. Once again it is possible to follow in the wake of Rolt and while the towns and villages of his day have changed greatly, the waterways have remained the same. While not everybody will have the time or resources to enjoy the pleasures of slow boat travel along these incredibly beautiful waterways, reading Green and Silver with its descriptive prose is an excellent substitute. It is the classic book of the Irish Waterways and will appeal to the armchair traveler, boater, social historian and anyone with an interest in the history off our Irish canals. This edition published 2015 by The Canal Bookshop with a forward by Tim Rolt. Soft Cover, 237pages 240x185x16mm
