Ulster Canal
Encyclopedia
The Ulster Canal is a disused canal
running through part of County Armagh
, County Tyrone
and County Fermanagh
in Northern Ireland
and County Monaghan
in the Republic of Ireland
. In the early 19th century the idea of linking the lowlands around Lough Neagh
with the Erne Basin
and the River Shannon
system became popular with the more progressive landowners and merchants of Armagh, Monaghan and Fermanagh. The Ulster Canal was built between 1825 and 1842 and was 74 km (46 mi) long with 26 locks. It ran from Charlemont
on the River Blackwater
to Wattle Bridge on the River Finn
, south-east of Upper Lough Erne.
It was originally planned as an important section of a great waterway which was to cross Ireland
from east to west, from Belfast
to Limerick
. A poor water supply, inappropriately sized locks and the arrival of rail and road transport meant that it was eventually abandoned in 1931.
At the North/South Ministerial Council
meeting on 17 July 2007, it was announced that the governments would work towards the restoration of the stretch of the canal linking the town of Clones
, in County Monaghan, to Upper Lough Erne. The cost of the development would be €35 million, paid for by the Irish Exchequer.http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/07/17/europe/EU-POL-Northern-Ireland.phphttp://www.rte.ie/news/2007/0717/northpolitics.htmlhttp://www.iwai.ie/download/UlsterCanalSpec0.pdf. In August 2010, Waterways Ireland publishedhttp://www.waterwaysireland.org/index.cfm/section/article/page/UlsterCanalSEA an Ulster Canal Restoration Plan, an Environmental Report and an Appropriate Assessment. In September 2010 it held two Public Information Days, one in Clones, Co. Monaghan, and one in Newtownbutler
, Co. Fermanagh, and invited written comments on its plans by 30 September 2010. It is now unclear whether the scheme will be paid for by the Irish Exchequer or by the sale of Waterways Ireland
assets. The scheme has not been universally welcomed.http://irishwaterwayshistory.com/2010/09/20/the-ulster-canal-abandon-it-now/
Reports on the proposed restoration are available on the website of the Irish government department responsible for Waterways Ireland, the Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs.http://www.pobail.ie/en/NorthSouthCo-operation/ The Northern Ireland department responsible for Waterways Ireland, the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisurehttp://www.dcalni.gov.uk/index/inland_waterways-fisheries-r08.htm, does not mention the Ulster Canal on its website.
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:...
running through part of County Armagh
County Armagh
-History:Ancient Armagh was the territory of the Ulaid before the fourth century AD. It was ruled by the Red Branch, whose capital was Emain Macha near Armagh. The site, and subsequently the city, were named after the goddess Macha...
, 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...
and County Fermanagh
County Fermanagh
Fermanagh District Council is the only one of the 26 district councils in Northern Ireland that contains all of the county it is named after. The district council also contains a small section of County Tyrone in the Dromore and Kilskeery road areas....
in 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...
and County Monaghan
County Monaghan
County Monaghan is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Monaghan. Monaghan County Council is the local authority for the county...
in the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. In the early 19th century the idea of linking the lowlands around Lough Neagh
Lough Neagh
Lough Neagh, sometimes Loch Neagh, is a large freshwater lake in Northern Ireland. Its name comes .-Geography:With an area of , it is the largest lake in the British Isles and ranks among the forty largest lakes of Europe. Located twenty miles to the west of Belfast, it is approximately twenty...
with the Erne Basin
Lough Erne
Lough Erne, sometimes Loch Erne , is the name of two connected lakes in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. The lakes are widened sections of the River Erne. The river begins by flowing north, and then curves west into the Atlantic. The southern lake is further up the river and so is named Upper...
and the River Shannon
River Shannon
The River Shannon is the longest river in Ireland at . It divides the west of Ireland from the east and south . County Clare, being west of the Shannon but part of the province of Munster, is the major exception...
system became popular with the more progressive landowners and merchants of Armagh, Monaghan and Fermanagh. The Ulster Canal was built between 1825 and 1842 and was 74 km (46 mi) long with 26 locks. It ran from Charlemont
Charlemont
Charlemont is a small village in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. It had a population of 150 people in the 2001 Census. It is situated within the Armagh City and District Council area...
on the River Blackwater
River Blackwater, Northern Ireland
The River Blackwater is a river in County Armagh and County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, as well as County Monaghan and County Cavan in Republic of Ireland, which has its source to the north of Fivemiletown, County Tyrone...
to Wattle Bridge on the River Finn
River Finn
The River Finn is a river that flows through County Donegal in the Republic of Ireland and County Tyrone in Northern Ireland. It rises in Lough Finn in County Donegal and flows east through a deep mountain valley to Ballybofey and Stranorlar and on to the confluence with the River Mourne at Lifford...
, south-east of Upper Lough Erne.
It was originally planned as an important section of a great waterway which was to cross Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
from east to west, from 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...
to Limerick
Limerick
Limerick is the third largest city in the Republic of Ireland, and the principal city of County Limerick and Ireland's Mid-West Region. It is the fifth most populous city in all of Ireland. When taking the extra-municipal suburbs into account, Limerick is the third largest conurbation in the...
. A poor water supply, inappropriately sized locks and the arrival of rail and road transport meant that it was eventually abandoned in 1931.
At the North/South Ministerial Council
North/South Ministerial Council
The North/South Ministerial Council is a body established under the Belfast Agreement to co-ordinate activity and exercise certain governmental powers across the whole island of Ireland...
meeting on 17 July 2007, it was announced that the governments would work towards the restoration of the stretch of the canal linking the town of Clones
Clones
Clones is a small town in western County Monaghan, in the 'border area' of the Republic of Ireland. The area is part of the Border Region, earmarked for economic development by the Irish Government due to its currently below-average economic situation...
, in County Monaghan, to Upper Lough Erne. The cost of the development would be €35 million, paid for by the Irish Exchequer.http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/07/17/europe/EU-POL-Northern-Ireland.phphttp://www.rte.ie/news/2007/0717/northpolitics.htmlhttp://www.iwai.ie/download/UlsterCanalSpec0.pdf. In August 2010, Waterways Ireland publishedhttp://www.waterwaysireland.org/index.cfm/section/article/page/UlsterCanalSEA an Ulster Canal Restoration Plan, an Environmental Report and an Appropriate Assessment. In September 2010 it held two Public Information Days, one in Clones, Co. Monaghan, and one in Newtownbutler
Newtownbutler
Newtownbutler or Newtown Butler is a small village in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. It is in the southeast corner of the County, close to the border with County Monaghan and the town of Clones. It is surrounded by small lakes and bogland and close to Lough Erne...
, Co. Fermanagh, and invited written comments on its plans by 30 September 2010. It is now unclear whether the scheme will be paid for by the Irish Exchequer or by the sale of Waterways Ireland
Waterways Ireland
Waterways Ireland is one of the six all-Ireland North/South implementation bodies established under the Belfast Agreement in 1999. It is responsible for the management, maintenance, development, and restoration of inland navigable waterways primarily for recreational purposes...
assets. The scheme has not been universally welcomed.http://irishwaterwayshistory.com/2010/09/20/the-ulster-canal-abandon-it-now/
Reports on the proposed restoration are available on the website of the Irish government department responsible for Waterways Ireland, the Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs.http://www.pobail.ie/en/NorthSouthCo-operation/ The Northern Ireland department responsible for Waterways Ireland, the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisurehttp://www.dcalni.gov.uk/index/inland_waterways-fisheries-r08.htm, does not mention the Ulster Canal on its website.