Flotilla Of Dublin-Bound Boats Stalled At Confey As Bridge Fault Jeopardises Boat Rally

Thursday, 1 May 2025 08:55

By Martin Osborne

The Inland Waterways Association of Ireland (IWAI) had organised a major cruise involving events on the Grand and Royal canals, with participants spending over a year preparing, while some bought boats for the event.

Plans for the annual Dublin Boat Rally and associated waterborne parades are in jeopardy after Irish Rail said it is currently unable to lift the Newcomen Bridge in Dublin’s Docklands, with around 20 boats now stuck at Confey, near Leixlip.

The bridge is essential for boat access from the Royal Canal into the city.

The Inland Waterways Association of Ireland (IWAI) had organised a major cruise involving events on the Grand and Royal canals, with participants spending over a year preparing.

A flotilla of around 20 boats, which now set off from the Shannon earlier this month, is now stalled near at Confey, near Leixlip.

Kay Baxter, IWAI’s outgoing president, said the situation is a major disappointment for boaters, some of whom purchased boats specifically for the rally.

"Despite the itinerary being published months ago and the planned date for traversing beneath the bridge being known for months, Iarnrod Eireann have failed to repair the bridge in time. Waterways Ireland, who are responsible for the canals, have worked tirelessly with IWAI to ensure this trip runs seamlessly but despite their efforts the fleet will have no option but to turn in Confey, where they are currently, or Castleknock and return to the Shannon the way they came," a spokesperson for the group said.

Irish Rail, in a statement to the Irish Times, has acknowledged the disruption but called IWAI’s description of the issue “inaccurate and unfair,” citing a motor fault that has kept the bridge from operating properly.

The company says it hopes to resume bridge lifts later this season.

“The final lift of the bridge last August was postponed due to what was understood to be an electrical fault with the bridge. Irish Rail undertook works to replace the key electrical components within the following week, in readiness for the 2025 programme," the spokesperson said.

They added: “A fortnight ago, we undertook the first of the bridge lifts in 2025 for IWAI, during which the motor for the gear crank failed, resulting in the bridge being stuck in the upright position. It is our view now that this was the original fault, which it transpires was intermittent in nature. The fault two weeks ago did delay trains for a time until the bridge was lowered.”

You can hear more about this on this morning's Kildare Today.

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