Victoria Lock gates to be surveyed

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council say that engineers are planning to survey the lock gates at Victoria Lock in the next few weeks, following reports last year of water leakage from both sets of gates. Last summer saw the Newry Canal reach an extremely low level. Plans to bring a tall ship in for the annual Iúr Cinn Fleadh in August had to be changed to a smaller vessel as there wasn't sufficient water in Newry Ship Canal.

It is expected that the surveying will be completed in May and council say that work may be required depending on the outcome. Victoria Lock is the access point to Newry from Carlingford Lough and the world. In 2015 a £500,000 scheme saw the locks closed for over four months and involved dredging of Victoria Lock Chamber and repairs to the sea gates. Victoria Lock was built at a cost of £40,000 between 1842 and 1850 at the same time as an extension of the ship canal was made to Upper Fathom.