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EAST OF IRELAND WALKS - ON RIVER AND CANAL - A Walking Guide by Lenny Antonelli. Like secret highways, Ireland's rivers and canals wind their way through undiscovered parts of the country that are rich in wildlife, history and folklore. Walking our little used waterside trails reveals hidden threads of wilderness through rural and urban Ireland, rich in flora and fauna, and uncovers remnants of a time when life in Ireland revolved around its waterways rather than its roads. This guide introduces some of the best river and canal trails in Leinster, from short strolls to long day-hikes, and one multi-day trek. It features deep wooded valleys in Wicklow, the big rivers of the south-east, old canals that criss-cross the midlands, and suburban rivers in Dublin. With an eye out for wildlife, the author describes these walking routes by Ireland's rivers and Canal, while recounting local history and offering practical advice for walkers. Whether you are new to hiking in Ireland or an experienced walker, these new and less-trodden paths will bring you to places of unexpected beauty. 128 Pages. Paperback. Full colour. 198x127x8mm -
Written by Giles Byford with Illustrations by Jill Parkinson. Life afloat suits some people, and with a business that's made living and working all over the English waterways possible, it suits Giles and Jill so well they feel blessed. Everything, from the odd circumstance of finding their first narrowboat to rejecting academia, seems to bring rewards: so they are not surprised that the same strange magic appears to be working it's charm when they set about building Hawthorn, the barge they intend to spend the rest of their lives exploring Europe on. The future's promising and wonderful. And then, quite suddenly, everything falls apart. Reedbound is largely about what follows. How the terrifying violence of crossing the Irish Sea becomes an act of faith that contrasts with a gentle westward wandering along an empty canal to the River Shannon. And how, over the year they spend exploring the Irish waterways, a philosophy of trusting all will be well and refusing to research beyond the barest minimum delivers adventure, unexpected spaces and other misfits. Ultimately Reedbound is a celebration of how the redemptive power of Ireland's landscape and culture re-establishes the couple's faith that they're looked after on the water. Hardback. 217 pages. 165x240x20mm -
Bernadette Cunningham & Harman Murtagh, editors. Combining archaeology, historical geography, history and literature, this book explores the settlement history of Lough Ree through the centuries. Themes include place-names, mythology and literature, the architecture and context of ecclesiastical and secular buildings on the islands and surrounding shores, demesne landscapes, boating on the lake and modern island living. These authoritative studies of key themes associated with the historic settlement of this lake land region are a valuable resource to inform future work on the heritage landscape of Lough Ree and the River Shannon. The book is part of a successful series of thematic essay collections produced by the Group for the Study of Irish Historic Settlement. Hardback. 264 Pages. 240x165x22mm. -
Published by IWAI Athlone Branch in 1979 to celebrate the first 25 years of the Athlone Branch. Contains information about the history of the branch up to that point, the events that took place and other information. The book contains many interesting photos of people, vessels and events from the period. Paperback, 72 pages, black & white, 240x180x5mm. These books are unused but have been in storage for many years and so are not in perfect condition. -
“BOOK ON THE BANN WITH A GREAT FLOWING STYLE AND SUPERB WATERCOLOURS” Brian Cassells, the former President of the Inland Waterways Association of Ireland has teamed up with his old friend Brian Courtney, a retired journalist to produce a well written and informative text which blends perfectly with the superb watercolours of Gillian Lutton, a renowned local artist. The book takes us on a geographical and historical trip from the source of the Upper Bann among the picturesque Mourne mountains, right to the Bannfoot where the river enters Lough Neagh, calling en route in places like Hilltown, Rathfriland, Banbridge Gilford, Lurgan and Portadown. The text leaves the course of the river from time to time to inform us of interesting places such as Tandragee and Loughgall. There is great historic detail about the linen trade which was once so prominent along the Upper Bann, but which has long since faded into history. A beautiful hardback book that will grace anyone's collection of waterways volumes for many years -
This is a fascinating new book by Brian Cassells, entitled ‘By the Shores of Lough Neagh’, published by Cottage Publications. In it, Brian explores the history and people of the Lough in great depth, illustrating his journey around the Lough with a superb collection of photographs. Starting at his childhood home in the Montiaghs, in the southern Lough Neagh wetlands, Brian takes the reader on a tour through the history of the Lough, its people and its industry. Many long forgotten nuggets of information are gleaned along the way. The vital role the Lough and its shoreline played in the Second World War, which led to the development of Aldergrove International Airport; its role as the hub of the waterway network for the Newry, Coalisland and Lagan canals, with the Upper and Lower Bann navigation's delivering barges to the Lough Neagh Basin; the evolution of local fishing practices into what is now the largest commercial wild eel fisher in Europe and the endurance of the sand extraction industry are all recounted in Brian’s authoritative narrative. Brian Cassells is the Chairman of the Lough Neagh Advisory Committee and was President of the Inland Waterways Association of Ireland from 2005 to 2007. He is currently Chairman of the local museum committee where he has embarked on an ambitious plan to establish a waterways museum at Oxford Island. -
Alain Le Garsmeur & Keith Baker In 1776 Richard Twiss compared Lough Erne to Loch Lomond, the Italian Lakes and Lake Geneva. Today Lough Erne still stands up to such comparisons and remains a visitors' paradise. It is also a lough of two parts: the upper lough, with its tangle of inlets and drumlins, and the lower lough, with its corridor of islands and broad expanses of water, almost like inland seas. Between the two is Enniskillen, the heart of the region and a historic, lively and much-Loved town that boasts such attractions as the castle, the Inniskillings' Regimental Museum and Cole's Monument. The book follows the course of the Erne, moving from the upper lough, through Enniskillen to the lower lough. In over 150 stunning photographs, Alain Le Garsmeur captures the beauty of the area in all its different moods, seasons and weathers, from frosty days at the Crom Estate to the spring days when bluebells carpet the shores. Accompanied by Enniskillen-born Keith Baker's informative and engaging words, the photographs tell the story of the lough, from its well-known landmarks such as Devenish, Boa Island and Florence Court to its stunning hidden inlets, moorings and jetties. Lough Erne is an unmissable celebration of life on the water in one of the best-Loved parts of Ireland, perfect for those who want to discover the area, and for those who have already fallen under its spell. Hard Back with dust cover. 144 Pages, 280 x 255 x 16mm -
Out of stock
MY LAGAN LOVE - A Portrait of the River Lagan Text By Ian Hill, Paintings by Gillian Lutton. Hardback. The Lagan may be a small river compared with the great European rivers such as the Rhine or the Danube yet this grey-brown river which sluices through Belfast once created the power to run the mills and foundries, not just of the cities of Belfast and Lisburn, but of every town and village from the mountains to the sea, thus establishing much of the wealth of Ulster. This book treats you to an unrivalled trip to explore the river and surrounding area in the company of leading travel writer Ian Hill and respected watercolourist Gillian Lutton. Stop along the way as Ian shares with you his unique insights on the ecology, geography and history of the Lagan, its famous and sometimes scandalous people, whilst Gillian Lutton’s stunning watercolours reveal to you the hidden treasures to be found around this marvellous stretch of river. 112 pages, padded hardback 285mm x 210mm x 15mm -
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A CELEBRATION OF 50 YEARS OF THE SHANNON BOAT RALLY In 1961, the foresight of a handful of enthusiastic boaters campaigned against what would have been the closure of the Shannon Navigation as we know it today. They encouraged other like-minded individuals to participate in a week long trip of the Shannon from Athlone to Lough Key and so, the Shannon boat rally was born. Many of these pioneers are no longer with us and their boats long gone but the original spirit is still as strong today as on the first day. This book was compiled to honour the work and play of many ralliers over the last 50 years.
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