Strabane Canal
Encyclopedia
Strabane Canal is a canal
in County Tyrone
, Northern Ireland
. In 1791 an Act was passed authorising the construction of a 6.4 km (4 mi) canal from the tidal waters of Lough Foyle
at Leck, some 16 km (10 mi) upstream from Derry
, to Strabane
. It only had two locks, called 'Crampsies' and 'Devines'. It was constructed in 1792 at an expense of £12,000, defrayed by a grant from the Commissioners of Inland Navigation, aided by the Marquess of Abercorn.
The canal brought considerable prosperity to Strabane (and to Lifford
) in the first quarter of the 19th century and the towns became flourishing markets for agricultural produce. The canal fell into disuse in 1962.
In June 2006 the Strabane Lifford Development Commission
awarded a £1.3m cross-border waterways restoration contract to Doran Consulting
of Belfast
. The project was launched by President of Ireland
, Mary McAleese
, in Lifford and involves the restoration of 2.4 km (1.5 mi) of canal and two locks to working order.
Canal
Canals are man-made channels for water. There are two types of canal:#Waterways: navigable transportation canals used for carrying ships and boats shipping goods and conveying people, further subdivided into two kinds:...
in County Tyrone
County Tyrone
Historically Tyrone stretched as far north as Lough Foyle, and comprised part of modern day County Londonderry east of the River Foyle. The majority of County Londonderry was carved out of Tyrone between 1610-1620 when that land went to the Guilds of London to set up profit making schemes based on...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. In 1791 an Act was passed authorising the construction of a 6.4 km (4 mi) canal from the tidal waters of Lough Foyle
Lough Foyle
Lough Foyle, sometimes Loch Foyle , is the estuary of the River Foyle in Ulster. It starts where the Foyle leaves Derry. It separates the Inishowen Peninsula in County Donegal, Republic of Ireland from County Londonderry in Northern Ireland.-Transport:...
at Leck, some 16 km (10 mi) upstream from Derry
Derry
Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
, to Strabane
Strabane
Strabane , historically spelt Straban,is a town in west County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It contains the headquarters of Strabane District Council....
. It only had two locks, called 'Crampsies' and 'Devines'. It was constructed in 1792 at an expense of £12,000, defrayed by a grant from the Commissioners of Inland Navigation, aided by the Marquess of Abercorn.
The canal brought considerable prosperity to Strabane (and to Lifford
Lifford
Lifford is the county town of County Donegal, Ireland. It is the administrative capital of the county and the seat of Donegal County Council, although the town of Letterkenny is often mistaken for fulfilling this role...
) in the first quarter of the 19th century and the towns became flourishing markets for agricultural produce. The canal fell into disuse in 1962.
In June 2006 the Strabane Lifford Development Commission
Strabane Lifford Development Commission
Strabane Lifford Development Commission is a cross-border body in Ireland, to develop cultural and economic development ties between Strabane in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland and Lifford in County Donegal, Republic of Ireland, just across the border marked by the River Foyle.In June 2006 the...
awarded a £1.3m cross-border waterways restoration contract to Doran Consulting
Doran Consulting
Doran Consulting is an engineering consultancy based in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It was founded in 1953, became a partnership in 1972 and from 1 June 2005 was incorporated to form Doran Consulting Limited. It employs about 90 people and has regional offices in England and Scotland...
of Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
. The project was launched by President of Ireland
President of Ireland
The President of Ireland is the head of state of Ireland. The President is usually directly elected by the people for seven years, and can be elected for a maximum of two terms. The presidency is largely a ceremonial office, but the President does exercise certain limited powers with absolute...
, Mary McAleese
Mary McAleese
Mary Patricia McAleese served as the eighth President of Ireland from 1997 to 2011. She was the second female president and was first elected in 1997 succeeding Mary Robinson, making McAleese the world's first woman to succeed another as president. She was re-elected unopposed for a second term in...
, in Lifford and involves the restoration of 2.4 km (1.5 mi) of canal and two locks to working order.
Current status
The two sets of locks have been fully restored and work will now be carried out on the clearing of the canal channel and the restoration of water into the channel. The construction work has been completed on the canal, but to a poor standard. The council has refused to maintain the restored section of canal in its present state, and it has begun to deteriorate again.See also
- Canals of IrelandCanals of Ireland*Boyne Navigation*Broharris Canal*Coalisland Canal *Dukart's Canal*Grand Canal*Lacy's Canal*Lagan Canal*Lecarrow Canal*Newry Canal*Royal Canal*Shannon-Erne Waterway*Strabane Canal*Ulster Canal...
- Canals of the United KingdomCanals of the United KingdomThe canals of the United Kingdom are a major part of the network of inland waterways in the United Kingdom. They have a colourful history, from use for irrigation and transport, through becoming the focus of the Industrial Revolution, to today's role for recreational boating...