Facilities

Waterways Ireland is committed to the ongoing development of angling facilities for both able-bodies and disabled anglers along its waterway network. This guide describes the wheelchair accessible facilities that are currently available on the Grand Canal and Barrow Navigation. These fully accessible stands and ancillary facilities have been constructed to a high standard in accordance with the guidelines set down by the National Rehabilitation Board of Ireland. These developments represent the start of an ongoing process which aims to provide disabled anglers with access to the best of coarse and pike angling.

Waterways Ireland will continue to liaise closely with the Irish Wheelchair Association to ensure that the stands and associated infrastructure are commensurate with the needs of disabled anglers.

Barrow Line of the Grand Canal
A permanent angling section has been established at Ballyteague (map 1), on the Barrow Line of the Grand Canal consisting of parking and 20 stands, 10 of which are wheelchair accessible. This section of canal is heavily fished during the spring, summer and autumn months, by both able and disabled anglers. The local Ballyteague Coarse Angling Club run a number of competitions on the section and regularly feed the stretch to entice fish into the area. Because the area is fed, fish continue to feed here through the winter. The section is easily accessed from the main road and the towpath is drivable for its full length. A turning bay for cars and vans is located at the Ballyteague end of the section.

The two wheelchair accessible angling stands and car park at Athy (map 3), on the Barrow Line of the Grand Canal, are located at the southern end of a major match angling section. This section plays host to a large number of local and provincial coarse angling competitions, run by the Athy and District Angling Club.

The Barrow Line at Ballyteague and Athy is between 2 and 5 metres wide and averages 1.75 m deep. The canal corridor supports a wide diversity of aquatic and marginal plants that harbour myriads of fish-food insects. This aquatic vegetation also acts as a spawning and nursery habitat for a variety of coarse fishes. This may explain the large quantity of healthy fish that is resident in this productive canal. The vegetation is carefully managed and does not pose an obstruction for anglers.

Barrow Navigation
On the Barrow Navigation at Bagnelstown (map 2), Waterways Ireland has developed a quality angling section with wheelchair accessible stands. Five state-of-the-art stands with adjacent car parking are located on the banks of the river, downstream of Rathelin Lock. A dedicated tarmac towpath services the section.

The Barrow Navigation adjacent to the stands at Bagenalstown is aproximately 40m wide. The flow is slow and the water is between 3 and 4 m deep. The margins of the Barrow Navigation support moderate stands of reeds and yellow water lilies. The density of boat traffic through the area is low.

Fishing Tackle and Bait
Unless you are specially targeting pike, perch, carp or big tench, pole tackle is the most productive fishing method. Float fishing can also prove most effective. It is recommended that, beginning a session, the angler targets the middle of the canal sections, or approximately 6 to 9 m from the river bank. Baits should be fished just on the bottom. In the canal, small amounts of ground bait should be introduced at the start of the session, between four and eight small balls, and loose feed thereafter. In the river sections, large amounts of ground bait are required because of the flow of the river. Fish with No. 6 or 8 elastic, 1.4 kg main line to a 0.9 kg hook length, and a medium-wire size 18 hook. Heavier tackle will be required if tench or carp are the intended quarry. The most productive baits include maggots, worms and sweetcorn. Good pike are available in the canal and river sections. These can be fished using dead-baits or artificial lures.
For advice contact P J Gorey, local angler at Tel:+353 (0)87 2591724.

Fish Stocks
The Barrow Navigation at Bagenalstown is well-stocked with quality coarse fish. The fish in these waters are wild, disease-free and hard-fighting. The principal species present include roach, rudd, bream, hybrids, tench, carp, pike, perch and eels. An abundance of small roach, rudd, hybrids and bream are augmented by good numbers of large specimens. At Barrow Line at Ballyteague, tench in excess of 3.2 kg have been caught, while on the Barrow Navigation pike over 13.6 kg are not uncommon.
The Barrow Line at Athy has a wealth of coarsefish species, including roach, bream and hybrids are plentiful. Tench fishing can be excellent in the summer months and the occasional carp may also be encountered.

Directions

Bagenalstown, Co. Carlow
From Dublin City Centre, follow signs for the M50/N7. Travel southwards on the N7 to Newlands Cross (Bewley's Hotel). Stay straight to join motorway M7. Take junction 9 from the M9. Follow the N9 to junction R705. Turn left for Leighlinbridge. From Leighlinbridge, turn left on the nearside of the bridge (signposted for Bagenalstown). On the approach road from Leighlinbridge there is an outdoor swimming pool, open during the Summer months. Turn right down a sliproad immediatly after the swimming pool. The angling stands are located approximately 200m upriver along a tarmac towpath. The Bagenalstown stretch has 5 disabled angling stands, picnic tables and a picturesque lock (see map 2).

Athy, Co. Kildare
Follow the directions stated above to junction 9 (M9). From here, leave the motorway and follow signposts for Athy (N78). Go through Athy town, crossing the bridge over the River Barrow. Take the next right turn, signposted for Stradbally. Continue straight beyond the lock for 1 km to the disabled stands. The disabled angling stands and car park are located on your left. This section occupies 69 permanent pegs (see map 3). This stretch has dedicated parking near the 2 disabled angling stands.

Ballyteague, Co. Kildare
From Dublin City Centre, follow signs for the N4. At the
junction with R403, branch left and follow signs for Celbridge. Follow R403 from Celbridge through Clane, Prosperous and Allenwood. Take a left turn onto R415 at Allenwood Cross (signposted Newbridge). Travel over 2 bridges for a distance of 1.5 km. Before the third bridge on this road, turn right onto a tarmac towpath. The stands are located at the lower end of the towpath. There are 10 disabled angling stands and 10 stands for able bodied anglers (see map 1). Peg 5 is, reputedly, the best fishing area, opposite the tunnel.

Waterways Ireland is responsible for the management, maintenance, restoration and development of the inland navigations principally for recreational purposes. The Central Fisheries Board are under contract to Waterways Ireland to manage Fisheries Development, Weed Management and Water Quality on the Royal Canal, the Grand Canal, the Barrow Navigation and the Shannon Erne Waterway.

CONTACT INFORMATION
Waterways Ireland
For Operational Queries in the Eastern Region contact
Waterways Ireland, Floor 2, Block C, Ashtown Gate, Navan Rd, Dublin 15.
Tel: +353 (0)1 8680148
info@waterwaysireland.org

For Promotional Information contact
Waterways Ireland, 20 Darling St., Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh.
Tel: +44 (0)28 6634 6219
www.waterwaysireland.org
info@waterwaysireland.org

Local Angling Information
P J Gorey, Local Angler.
Baronstown, Newbridge, Co. Kildare.
Tel: +353 (0)45 870658 / +353 (0)87 2591724

Tourist Information
East Coast & Midlands Tourism
Dublin Road, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath
Tel: +353 (0)44 48650, Fax: +353 (0)44 40413
Email: info@ecoast-midlandtourism.ie

Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy in the production of the guide. No responsibility can be accepted for any error, ommission, misinterpretation or subsequent changes which may occur.

If requested this brochure can be made available in accessible formats, subject to time constraints