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OFFALY BRANCH of the INLAND WATERWAYS ASSOCIATION OF IRELAND
Offaly IWAI Branch
Chairman: Bernadette Quinn, Kilbeggan, Co. Westmeath, |
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The M Boat – Birr Theatre
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The Offaly Branch of the Inland Waterways Association of Ireland is
hosting it's final 2010 lecture, to mark the closure of the Grand Canal 50
years ago, in the Offaly Historical Society, Bury Quay, Tullamore, on Tuesday evening 7th December at 7.30 pm.
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3rd December: Some Offaly IWAI members
were delighted to attend the launch of a new book, by local historian Michael
Byrne, and illustrated by Fergal McCabe. “Tullamore – A Portrait” provides a
witty and informative text which architect and watercolourist Fergal McCabe
illuminates with 80 sketches and paintings. The book can be sourced from OHAS
at http://www.offalyhistory.com
· 2nd December – 24th January: Offaly County Council has prepared a Draft Edendery Local Area Plan 2011-2017. The Draft Plan, and associated documents, may be viewed at The plan may be inspected at the various locations & times for a period of 6 weeks from 2nd December 2010 to 24th January 2011. See more at http://www.offaly.ie/eng/Services/Planning/ . Final date for submissions is 24th Jan 2010.
Autumn
2010:
·
Offaly
IWAI hosted its’ third lecture for 2010, in association with the newly formed
Ballycommon Canal Regeneration Group, in Ballycommon Organisation for Local
Development. Tommy McLoughlin, Vice Chair and Project Manager of the IWAI
Boyne Navigation Branch, presented the history, challenges and opportunities
of that group on the ongoing refurbishment of the Boyne Navigation. Many
thanks to Tommy.
·
Local
announcement that Tullamore Arts Centre will go ahead. Proposed site,
adjacent to the Canal, is Kilbride Park beside OHAS.
·
Offaly IWAI members assisted Canal Boat 107B visit
to Tullamore Town Council for 150th anniversary celebrations for
25/26 September.
·
Canal Boat 107B commences her journey as a
floating museum, with an exhibiton from SlowArchitecture over Sept,
travelling through Offaly and beyond. See www.107Bonline.com here
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Tullamore Chamber of Commerce plan Know Your
Tullamore day for 10th October, Offaly IWAI participated.
·
Know Your Boat Courses, in association with Athlone Institute of
Technology took place:
·
Mechanics
& Winterisation Course - 30 October 2010
·
Electrics
Course - 6 November 2010
The
courses are presented by experienced instructors supported by experienced
boat users. All courses involve
significant practical demonstration. Click here for more info.
AUGUST 2010: Heritage Week - Kilbeggan Challenge
on 28/29 August http://www.heritageweek.ie/en/HomeSearchDetails.aspx?EventID=5088 this year as a feature for Heritage
Week, in association with the Heritage Boat Association (www.heritageboatassociation.ie) and the Kilbeggan Grand Canal Harbour
Amenity Group. The Ballycommon Canal Regeneration Group was launched at that
event.
JULY 2010: The Branch welcome the PatMcGrath
swim, meeting the participants along the way in both Tullamore and
Ballycommon.
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JUNE 2010: The Branch welcomed the barge 51M to
Tullamore, with a lot of visitors over the course of the week when the barge
was visible in the harbour.
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MAY 2010: The Midlands Regional Authority
request submissions on the Midlands Regional Draft Planning Guidelines.
Deadline 5th May 2010. See www.midlands.ie
MAY 2010: Phoenix Fextival www.phoenixfestival.ie
moves to 7th-10th May for 2010, to coincide with the 225th
anniversary of the Great Balloon fire of Tullamore, use of the canal as a
venue for some activities of the festival has been a feature in previous
years, and will continue for the 2010 event.
MAY 2010: Offaly IWAI sponsored a spot prize, in
partnership with the barge, of a trip on barge Saoirse ar an Uisce, for a
winning group of four people, for each of 3 shows, for the St. Mary’s Youth
Centre junior drama group production of the ‘Pirates of Penzance’. A trip is
arranged for the group of 12 on Saturday 29th May.
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APRIL 2010: Tullamore Town Council requested input
to the Draft Town Development plan from 2010-2016 by 01 April 2010. See http://www.offaly.ie/eng/Services/Your_Councils/Tullamore_Town_Council/Planning_Services/
APRIL 2010: Community Arts Funding deadline for
submissions to Offaly Co Co is 16th April, 2010. If you have any
ideas for Offaly IWAI funding applications, email the branch now, click
through to the criteria and application forms for your perusal at www.offaly.ie/arts
APRIL 2010: Central Fisheries Board announces Forum
on Invasive Species, Tullamore Court Hotel. April 28th, 2010,
6.30-9.00pm. Website for more info is www.caisie.ie
APRIL 2010: Some branch members attended the
Kildare IWAI rally at Easter, a fabulous weekend.
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MARCH 2010: Scouting Ireland Conference was held in
Tullamore over 19th – 21st March, featuring barge Saoirse
ar an Uisce as an element of the Chief Scouts travels from the Scout Den to
Bury Bridge, as part of the start of the Grand Parade from the town up to the
Tullamore Court Hotel, on the evening of 19th March.
MARCH 2010: Offaly IWAI sponsored a spot prize, in
partnership with the barge, of a trip on barge Saoirse ar an Uisce, for a
winning group of four people, for each of 3 shows, for the St. Mary’s Youth
Centre junior drama group production of the ‘Pirates of Penzance’. A trip is
arranged for the group of 12 on Saturday 29th May.
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FEB 2010: Tullamore Town Council secure funding
for a boardwalk, new bridges and a service block for the canal area in
Tullamore. Work commencing in 2010.
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BRANCH MEETINGS 2010:
Proposals for 2010:
1.
Host a series of lectures to
mark the closure of the Grand Canal, to commercial traffic, from 01 Jan 1960,
50 years ago.
2. Identify and work at strategic links between Offaly IWAI and other
organisations, for the ongoing promotion of the Grand Canal.
3. Support/welcome boaters and others interested in the waterways, in or
visiting the area, who are interested in meeting with Offaly IWAI members.
4.
Collate and highlight
information on the work of other agencies in relation to the Grand Canal and
associated infrastructure.
1st Meeting of 2010 was 20th Jan 2010,
8.00 p.m. AGM for 2009. Venue: Offaly Historical and Archeological Society,
Bury Quay, Tullamore. The meeting commenced with a presentation by Michael
Byrne, of OHAS, on the Grand Canal in Tullamore and the development of towns
along the Canal.
2nd
Meeting of 2010 was hosted again at OHAS in early March, and Michael Slevin,
founder member of the 2009 Grand Crew project, www.grandcrew.iwai.ie presented an excellent overview of the event. The
evening was attended by many members of IWAI, and other interested groups
that supported Grand Crew, which was a collaboration between various IWAI
groups, the HBA and a wide range of groups interested in heritage, vintage
activities and more. Thanks Michael, and to all those that attended the great
evening.
A committee
only meeting was held in early June, to review / overview branch interests
and plan activities for the rest of the year (see above).
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For details on
Last Year, click to Past Events to see "2009 Float to the Fleadh" or 2009 Ballycommon Rally & Kilbeggan
challenge
More
updates as plans for 2010 develop.
Know
Your Boat Course
The ‘Know your Boat’ one day course programme for 2009/2010 will conclude with the last of the 3 classes : Fibreglass – 20th Feb.
These events are a joint partnership between the Offaly Branch of Inland Waterways Association of Ireland and Athlone Institute of Technology Adult Education Department.
Each of the three days course covers boat mechanics, electrics and a hands-on fiberglass course respectively.
Now entering the fifth year the courses continue to receive high levels of praise from participants.
People of a range of different skill levels attend and there are a growing number of lady skippers that have found this course useful. So if you are looking for ideas for a present for someone contact the Offaly Branch at 0872252772. Download our 2009 brochure
Dates :
- Boat Mechanics
& Winterising 10th Oct
2009
- Boat Electrics 28th Nov 2009
- Fibreglass – 20th Feb. 2010
15.03.09 Click here to read the Sunday Tribune ‘Spring in Your Step’ Supplement that featured a half page on IWAI activities in general, as well as specific information relating to some of the the Barrow Branch and Offaly Branch activities/events in 2009.
FLOAT TO THE FLEADH
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Kilbeggan Challenge/
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Mail
us here
for any further details required, to suggest a website link or make other
queries.
Go to older material. Ó Offaly Branch, IWAI 2010. |
The Offaly Branch is delighted to advise
that the 2009 Fleadh Cheoil will be held in Tullamore on 16th August to 23 rd
August. Following on from the success of the last two years the Offaly Branch
is busy planning for the 3rd Float to the Fleadh. 
Last year saw eighty two boats
(the biggest inland boating event of 2008) in Tullamore during the
festivities from all over the country and there is much excitement and
interest from boaters all over Ireland travelling to Tullamore this year. 
There is no registration fee and a bus
transfer for skippers, sponsored by the branch, will run on Sunday 17th back
to Shannon Harbour. 
What the world says about 2010 and
offaly
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