1755-1756A survey by Thomas Williams and John Cooley for a canal from Dublin to the north Shannon was carried out in 1755 but the more southerly Grand Canal route was chosen by the Commissioners of Inland Navigation. 1755
1789Aid was sought to build a canal from Dublin to Tarmonbarry reviving the old plans. Parliament granted £66,000 to add to the £134,000 promised by subscribers. The charter of the Royal Canal Company was enrolled. 1789
1796The Ryewater Aqueduct was completed after five years work at a cost of £27,000. The canal was opened to Kilcock.1796
1805-1809In 1805 the canal was completed as far as Thomastown in Co. Westmeath. By the end of 1806 it had reached Mullingar. By 1809 the canal had reached Coolnahay at the western end of the summit.1805
1811-1813The Royal Canal Company's debt rose to £862,000 despite government grants and loans amounting to £143,856. In 1813 the company was dissolved and the concern handed over to the Directors General of Inland Navigation. 1811
1817The canal was completed to the Shannon from Coolnahay to designs by engineer John Killaly. The contractors were Henry, Mullins and MacMahon. The total cost of the canal from Dubin was £1,421,9541817
1830sIn 1830 the Longford Branch was opened to traffic. During the 1830s the average annual tonnage carried was 80,000 tons and 40,000 passengers.1830
1845The entire concern was purchased by the Midland Great Western Railway Company for £298,059 with a view to using the property alongside the canal to lay a railway to the west.1845
1870sSpencer Dock, where the the canal enters the River Liffey in Dublin, was completed in 1873. In 1877 Broadstone Harbour, also in Dublin, was filled in as forecourt for the railway terminus. Over the next decade the average tonnage reduced to 30,000 tons.1877
1920sThere were thirteen boats operating on the canal in 1923. A further section of the Broadstone Branch was filled in in 1927. Annual tonnage fell to 10,000 tons in the 1920s. 1923
1939-1945There was a brief revival of trade during the Emergency Years (World War 2). In 1944 ownership of the Royal Canal was transferred to Córas Iompair Éireann (CIÉ).1939
1946L.T.C. Rolt journeyed along the canal in 1946, one of the last boats on the triangular route of the Royal Canal, the Shannon and the Grand Canal before the Royal Canal closed to navigation. In 1949 'Green & Silver' a record of that journey was published.1946
1950sThe last bye-trader or independent boat company, James Leech of Killucan, ceased to operate in 1951. Four years later in 1955 Douglas Heard's 'Hark' was the last officially recorded boat to pass through the canal. The trip was captured on film. 1955
1970-1990The 'Save the Royal Canal' campaign by the IWAI began in 1974 and the Royal Canal Amenity Group was formed. Over the next 20 years 46 miles (74km) was restored between 12th Lock and Mullingar.1970
2000Responsibility for the Royal Canal 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
2010The Royal Canal was officially reopened to navigation. In attendence were the volunteers from the Royal Canal Amenity Group and the IWAI who had campaigned tirelessly for its reopening. 2010
