Introduction to the Royal Canal
Information taken from The Office of Public
Works leaflet "Along The Royal Canal-Mullingar to Clondra".
Lough Owel & The Feeder
All canals need a constant supply of water to their
highest or summit level. The Royal Canal is fed by Lough Owel via an artificial
channel which enters the canal in Mullingar. The flow of water to the feeder
is controlled by a sluice gate at its junction with the lake.
From the feeder the water in the canal flows in
two directions - eastward to Dublin and westward to the Shannon.
Lough Owel is an important winter feeding area
for large numbers of wild birds, including many species of duck. The lake
an Area of Scientific Interest of national importance because of the number
of wildfowl it supports.
Mullingar West
The plants growing along the water's edge are an
important part of the waterway. It is sometimes difficult to tell which
plants are growing on the land and which in the water - in many cases the
same species are growing in both.
Under the water plant stems and leaves provide shelter
and food for fish and a host of tiny invertebrates (animals without backbones,
such as Water Beetles). Birds
Abbeyshrule
When the canal was being built across the bog, limerick
soil was "imported" into the area to build up the embankments. In such
places lime loving plants such as Cowslips and Lady's Bedstraw can be found
growing beside acid loving species such as Bog cotton and different heather's.
Mullawornia
The canal takes a sharp turn north around Mullawornia
Rock just west of Ballymahon. At this point Lough Ree and the Shannon are
only 5 kilometres (3 miles) away but the canal continues north to join
the river near Tarmonbarry, a distance of some 21 kilometres (13 miles).
The Royal Canal Company had proposed deviating
from the original route and making the link with the Shannon at Lough Ree,
but the Grand Canal Company objected on the grounds that is would interfere
with it's trade. Since weather conditions on the Shannon lakes can be dangerous,
it is perhaps all to good that the change of route was not allowed.
Foygh Bridge - Coolnahinch Bridge
This relatively short stretch of canal has a wide variety of habitats along
its banks.
West of Foygh Bridge the towpath is a grass track with many different
wild flowers growing in the long grass. Scrub, dominated by Hazel,
grows on the slope of the embankment.
West of Coolbreany Bridge the canal cuts through the bog, and the contrast
between the acid vegetation of the bog and the lime loving vegetation of
the towpath is very striking.
Between Island Bridge and the 41st Lock at Coolnahinch the towpath is
enclosed, both banks are wooded and the canal seems isolated from the surrounding
countryside. Spindle and Guelder-rose are found in the hedgerow,
together with more common species like Hawthorn and Dog-rose.
Richmond Harbour
In 1817, 28 years after the charter of the Royal Canal Company was enrolled,
the canal was completed to Richmond Harbour in Clondra, Co. Longford.
In 1972 the harbour and the stretch of canal to the 45th lock was restored.
Boats can now pass from the harbour the the river Shannon via the river
Camlin or through a lock and a short stretch of canal from below Tarmonbarry.
Longford Branch
The Longford branch was opened in 1830, thirteen years after the Royal
Canal was completed to Richmond Harbour and the Shannon. Crossover
Bridge was built at the same time as the Longford Branch, so that the horses
towing the barges could cross from the towpath of the mainline to the branch
line towpath.
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