The History of the Barrow

The Barrow is known as one of the Three Sisters; the other two being the River Suir and the River Nore. Attempts to improve and later to canalise the river were ongoing from the 1700s and by the 1840s it was carrying 88,000 tons of goods.

1537 image

1537

An Act of Parliament was passed making it illegal to build a weir across the River Barrow to raise water levels for fishing or milling without putting a 'King's Gap' or flash lock in it. A flash lock was a navigable gap opened and closed by a single gate.
1537
1703-1709 image

1703-1709

A Committee of Irish House of Commons was appointed to bring in a bill to make the River Barrow navigable. In 1709 Colonel Smithwick reported the River Barrow could be made navigable from Athy to the sea for £3,000.
1703
1715 image

1715

An Act of Parliament authorised work to be carried out to make many navigations in Ireland including the River Barrow, and set up local commissioners for the purpose.
1715
1761-1783 image

1761-1783

Work commenced at Carriglead and continued through the 1760s and 1770s between St Mullins and Graiguenamanagh. In 1783 work was completed upstream to Clashganna.
1761
1790 image

1790

Barrow Navigation Company was incoporated and took over the completed works. Total tonnage carried was 16,000 tons.
1790
1800 image

1800

The trackway from St Mullins to Athy was completed, 10 lateral canals and locks finished and 4 of the original locks were enlarged to accommodate boats of up to 80 tons. Total tonnage carried was 19,828 tons.
1800
1803 image

1803

A contract was agreed with the Directors General of Inland Navigation to complete the navigation to a depth of 5ft and to reduce the tolls in return for an additional grant.
1803
1812 image

1812

Works on the navigation were completed to Athy but the depths in the river were still very unsatisfactory. Over £220,000 spent on the navigation, more than half of which had come from public funds.
1812
1830-1834 image

1830-1834

Navigation was still reported to be very unsatisfactory. Total tonnage carried was58,100 tons. By 1834 the new lateral canal and lock at Clogrennan was completed. Tonnage rose to 86,000 tons. Half of the total was shipments of corn, meal, malt and flour.
1830
1894 image

1894

An Act of Parliament transferred the entire undertaking of the Barrow Navigation Company to the Grand Canal Company for £32,500.
1894
1935 image

1935

Upper Barrow drainage scheme increased silting in the lateral canals and led to an increase in currents in winter. £18,000 compensation was paid to the Grand Canal Company.
1935
1950s image

1950s

The navigation was transferred to Córas Iompair Éireann (CIÉ) in 1950. Nine years later CIÉ withdrew commercial trade on the Barrow.
1950
2000 image

2000

Responsibility for the Barrow Navigation 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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