The History of the Lower Bann

Efforts to improve the navigation, drainage and mill-power on the Lower Bann were undertaken in the 1840s but it wasn't until the latter end of the 19th century that they succeeded in alleviating the problems on the river.

1738 image

1738

The Bishop of Down and Connor petitioned the Irish Parliament to do something about the great shoal of rock at Portna near Kilrea to alleviate the annual flooding. Although Parliament responded no actual work was done and the problem remained.
1738
1842 image

1842

In 1842, a special Act was passed enabling the Board of Public Works to carry out schemes to improve navigation, drainage and mill power in the Lough Neagh Basin. Engineer John MacMahon carried out a survey and drew up plans. Work began in 1847.
1842
1847 image

1847

Five locks were constructed by John MacMahon to allow navigation along the river. The locks were at Toome, Portna, Movanagher, Carnroe and the Cutts. The Cutts gets it name as a large shoal of rock had to be cut and blasted from solid bedrock.
1847
1929 image

1929

A proposal to build a hydro-electric scheme across the Lower Bann in 1925 came to nothing and in 1929 the Ministry of Finance took over the responsibility for the navigation and drainage from the Lower Bann Navigation Trust who had managed it from 1847.
1929
1930s image

1930s

Three weirs were replaced by three sets of sluice gates in the early 1930s in an effort to regulate the water flow on the river and control the water level of Lough Neagh improving both drainage and navigation.
1930
1939-1945 image

1939-1945

During World War 2 the Lower Bann was used by military forces to transport munitions and supplies to and from bases around Lough Neagh. Royal Engineers conducted training exercises which included the building of bridges across the Bann.
1939
1960s image

1960s

The Lower Bann was threatened with closure as a navigation but this did not happen due to a campaign by the River Bann and Lough Neagh Association, a branch of the Inland Waterways Association of Ireland.
1960
2000 image

2000

Responsibility for the Lower Bann was transferred to Waterways Ireland, one of the six North/South Bodies established in 1999 under the British Irish Agreement for the management and maintenance of inland navigable waterways
2000

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