Click here to see photos of visitors to the Newry ship canal
SHIP CANAL
The Newry ship canal runs for 4 miles from the Victoria sea-lock to the centre of Newry city. Up until the end of the 1960s ships carrying coal and timber were common sights tied up at the Albert Basin. This was an industrial area of town then with lorries bumping along the cobble stone quays and timber piled in Fisher’s yard. Like many other city dock areas it was re-developed towards the end of the twentieth century with the Quays shopping complex and refurbishment of Drumolane Mill. There are plans to further develop other parts of the Albert Basin and it is hoped to incorporate a marina.
Yacht Clubs in Carlingford Lough held an annual rally up into the city but otherwise leisure traffic was actively discouraged by the canal’s owners Newry and Mourne District Council. In 2004 the local yachts ‘Mithril’ and ‘Valhalla’ wintered in the Albert Basin but a complete lack of security caused some problems. In 2006 Mithril left from the ship canal on a 2-year voyage, which took them to Australia and back via the Southern Ocean and Atlantic Canada. Mithril returned to Newry in 2008 by which time the Victoria lock had been mechanised. However prices for berthing in the basin had been set at such a high level as to discourage any yachts from using the facilities. Tireless campaigning by the branch has recently resulted in the fees being lowered to a more reasonable level. This year there were 4 boats wintering in the basin.
With the current strength of the Euro against the pound the Quays shopping centre is booming and the road traffic approaching Newry is chaotic. The Newry ship canal now provides the perfect destination for a local 'booze cruise'. A weekend voyage to Newry could be combined with a leisurely shopping spree, entertainment and sightseeing. Your 'accomodation' costs would be £30 for up to a week alongside in the Albert basin. How's that for a budget city break!
For full details of Ship Canal access see: Access procedures to Newry ship canal
The branch’s ambitions for the
ship canal can be summarised as follows:
- Work with Newry and Mourne Council to have the ship canal adopted by Waterways Ireland.
- Take part in consultations with NMDC on berthing procedures and charges.
- Liase with the Loughs Agency on enhancement and maintenance projects.
- Promote the ship canal as a yachting destination.
- Ensure that any future planning development round the Albert basin takes the interests of leisure boating into consideration.
Read an article on the history of the ship canal by sean patterson
For information on the proposed development of the Albert Basin go to www.albertbasin.com