Boating and water sports could be set for a return to Kildare canal

A section of the Grand Canal should be reopened to facilitate boating activities and water sports.

Naas politician Seamie Moore said a route between Grand Canal harbour at Naas and the canal harbour at Corbally should be reopened "after 75 years of closure for boating and water sports amenities.”

He said one of the advantages of doing this is the absence of locks along the waterway because the passage through these is a time consuming process.

Cllr Bill Clear said there are 10 kms of canal after Naas without locks.

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KCC official Alan Dunney told the KCC meeting that the importance of doing this has been identified by the council and will benefit the regeneration of the Naas harbour area of the town “as it will bring canal boats back.”

He said it will improve the amenity of the canal generally, to the benefit of the wider area. 

Mr Dunney said boat users and water sports enthusiasts could benefit directly.

He said the work is likely to involve replacing the road bridge at Newbridge Road, which  effectively culverts the canal at that point.

This, he added, is likely to be a significantly expensive project, “the delivery of which would be outside the remit of the studies currently underway.”

He said that as of now a way to finance this work is not clear at the moment.

The proposal to include an objective to replace the bridge is noted and will be given due consideration in relevant policy documents.