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Walkers on the Newry Canal Towpath this morning have had to put up with a strong smell of oil in the air after an oil spill once again has affected the historic Newry Canal. The oil is flowing on the surface of the canal for around half a mile.
Photograph: Columba O'Hare/ Newry.ie
Council workers have installed a small boom this morning to try to stop the flow of the pollutant at the location where it is believed to have entered the waterway via a drain at the path that leads to Hickeys Lane.
It's believed that the spill was first noticed around 6pm yesterday 7 October. Surface oil can be seen on the canal from around the first lock on the towpath to the Hickeys Lane entrance. Currently oil doesn't seem to have reached as far as Canal Quay and it's hoped it will remain that way.
It follows another incident in March 2023 which saw oil enter the canal at WIN Business Park.
Any effect on wildlife isn't clear at this stage.
