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Newry Canal despite being the oldest canal in Ireland isn't one of the inland navigation projects managed by Waterways Ireland and it looks like it won't be considered any time soon.
The restoration of Newry Canal from it's start at Whitecoat Point near Portadown to Newry has long been on the wishlist of Newry people but so far the facility which is owned by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council and Armagh, Banbridge, Craigavon Borough Council has not been priortised despite calls for both Councils to work towards it. With the eventual restoration of Currently a popular towpath runs the entire length of the Canal from Portadown to Newry but the water isn't navigable on this stretch, unlike the stretch on Newry Ship Canal from the Albert Basin to Victoria Lock.
Waterways Ireland is one of six North/South Implementation Bodies established under the British-Irish Agreement of 1998. It is responsible for the management, maintenance, development and promotion of over 1000 km of inland navigable waterways including the Shannon Erne Waterway, Grand Canal, Royal Canal, Barrow Navigation, Shannon Navigation, Lower Bann Navigation and the Erne system. It is also progressing with the restoration and management of the Ulster Canal from Clones to Lough Erne.
Waterways Ireland operates under the policy direction of the North South Ministerial Council based in Armagh City.
Newry.ie asked Waterways Ireland if the Canal was in their remit or if any public body had asked it to be included. A spokesperson replied "The Newry Canal is not within our remit and its management is a matter for the relevant District Councils."
It also seems that no agency has actually asked for it to be included either. The spokesperson added "Waterways Ireland is not aware of a request by any agency for us to take on the management of the Newry Canal."
Inland Waterways Association Ireland Newry and Portadown's mission is to see the facility reopened to boats once again and claim it wouldn't be an expensive proposition with locks still there and most lock gates still in place. Thre just needs to be the will to do it.
