Welcome to the Boyne Navigation Branch website.
The Boyne Navigation Branch is a branch of the Inland Waterways Association of Ireland(IWAI). The primary objective of the Boyne Navigation Branch is the restoration of the Boyne Navigation(Canal) from Drogheda to Navan.
The project has been in progress since 2003. The work to date has been concentrated on the canal section from the sea lock at Oldbridge to the turf lock at the Horse Bridge, approximately 0.5 miles to the east of the upstream junction with the River Boyne. This work has involved significant voluntary effort, and has resulted in the restoration of a considerable length of navigable waterway.
The work programme for Winter/Spring 2009 includes clearance of vegetation, maintenance of the cleared navigation, keeping it free of rubbish and other litter, installation of temporary stop boards, demolition of the concrete dams and the restoration of the lock gates at the Sea Lock, and at the Oldbridge upper Guard Lock at the Horse Bridge, and dredging of the upstream canal section west of the bridge.
Boyne Navigation Branch wins award
We are delighted to announce that the Boyne Navigation Branch has been awarded the Certificate of Excellence in Community Commitment by the Drogheda Chamber. Click here to see a copy of the award.
Volunteers Appeal
Summer on the Boyne has been a very busy and exciting time for the Branch, between the progress on the restoration work on the sealock on the Oldbridge Canal section of the Navigation, and some well earned recreation events for our hardworking members.
As seems to be a feature of the Boyne, our regular fortnightly work parties have been blessed with beautiful weather, with only one exception when work had to be suspended after our lunchbreak due to persistent rain. As always, new volunteers are most welcome to our workparties, if it is only to see what has been achieved to date, or to lend a hand in the effort. Please don't think that the kind of work we do would not suit you without coming to see what is involved.
Please see our Volunteering section for more details
Generally workparty dates can be accessed on our website - still in course of development - at www.boyne.iwai.ie. A 'soup and sandwiches' lunch is always provided for everybody present by our hardworking catering staff, giving us all a chance to relax and to get to know each other with a bit of chat and gossip!
Restoration Progress
The main activity of the Branch - restoration of the Navigation - reached a significant milestone on Saturday 11th July when the new tailgates of the sealock at Oldbridge were lifted into position in the lock. The main lift was carried out with a 60ft crane located partly on the public road beside the lock, and careful control & diversion of traffic along the road was needed for the lifting operation. For the first time in over ninety years a lockgate was swung in the sealock, and it fell to our Vice Chairman & Project Manager, Tommy Mc Loughlin to perform the historic act!
Click here for our gallery of images.
Fitting and adjustment of the gates will continue over the next few workparties, using an overhead lifting beam and lifting tackle, which has also been installed across the lock. Stonework restoration of the lock walls and floor is also continuing, as is initial fabrication of the breastgates. All in all a busy time! We must again thank our many sponsors for their several kinds of help in our efforts, particularly Halco Ltd., and Larry Drew & Co. for their supply of heavy construction machinery during the past months.
Bar-B-Que
It certainly is not 'all work and no play' on the Boyne as a second annual very enjoyable bar-b-que was held in the Lockhouse garden beside the sealock at Oldbridge on the evening of Friday 17th June. Again the weather was perfect, and the lighting, tents, dancefloor, and other decorations in the garden beside the lock contributed a wonderfully festive air to the celebrations.
About thirty-five of our branch members and friends attended for an evening of enjoyment and relaxation from our usual workparty activities. Special thanks must go to Stephen Early and his able helpers for their cooking efforts, and to Sophie Geraghty and Mike Egan for their permission to use the garden. Surprising hidden talents of some of our members on the dancefloor, and in the singsong were much on view! A great evening was had by all.
Lagan Rally trip
Twelve of our members took part in the wonderfully organised Lagan Branch rally in conjunction with the arrival of the Tall Ships into Belfast, on Saturday, 15th August. We trailed four boats to the Ormeau Embankment, starting at 7.00a.m. from the Sealock at Oldbridge, in wet and windy weather all the way to Belfast. However, prayers were answered, and by the time all boats were launched, the sun had broken through, giving a beautiful day for the rest of the day. We had a wonderful trip down the Lagan as far as the Waterfront Hall, where all participants were entertained to lunch, and speeches from the Lord Mayor of Belfast, the President of IWAI, and lastly, by our host, Jim Henning - all thankfully short!
We all then had a chance to walk to where the Tall Ships were moored, and browse, and admire these fantastic vessels. Back then on board our somewhat smaller craft, and back up the river, with another opportunity to see Belfast from the water, at it's very best. So to the finish of a wonderful rally, with all congratulations to the Lagan Branch for their great organisation, and warm welcome to us all!
