Enfield

The section of the Royal Canal between Fern's Lock (Lock 17) and Ballasport Bridge (Lock 18) is 30 km long. This section of canal plays host to a number of nationally important match fishing venues and many kilometres of prime pleasure angling. The town of Enfield represents the hub of this high profile coarse fishery.

The Royal Canal in this area is located in a relatively undisturbed, rural environment, where peace and tranquility are available to those who seek it. Waterways Ireland has created an infrastructure along the canal that provides ready access for anglers to most stretches. In addition to easy access, the angler is provided with ample adjacent car parking and managed match stretches.

Each year the Royal Enfield Coarse Angling Club hosts a number of major coarse angling competitions. These include: the Royal Enfield CAC 2-day International festival, in early June, the Royal Enfield CAC Seamus Mooney Memorial Winter League (6 matches), between October and February, an all night competition staged in early July and many open matches for adult and junior anglers throughout the year. This active Club also provides angling teach-ins for juniors and beginners. These events attract large numbers of match anglers from Ireland and abroad. The popularity of these events is perpetuated by the abundance of quality coarse fish, the high fish catch rate and the hospitality of the local population.

Over the past 10 years this section of the canal has been stocked with wild coarse fish from game fisheries elsewhere in the country. Introduced species included roach, bream, hybrids, tench and carp. In addition to a large stock of medium-sized fish, this section holds some large bream to 3.2 kg, tench to 2.5 kg, roach x bream hybrids to 1.5 kg and rudd to 0.9 kg. In recent years a number of large pike to 12 kg have been caught and released, in this productive section of canal.

The Canal
The Royal Canal in the Enfield area is between 10 and 14 m wide and averages 1.6 m deep. Water in the Royal Canal can be very clear, particularly near Enfield. The canal corridor supports a wide diversity of aquatic and marginal plants that harbour myriads of fish-food insects. This may explain the large quantity of plump fish that are resident in the canal. The vegetation is carefully managed and does not pose an obstruction for anglers. Boat traffic density along the canal is low.

Fishing Tackle and Bait
Pole tackle is the best fishing method on this relatively narrow canal. Float fishing can also be successful. Most anglers beginning a session should firstly target the middle of the canal, fishing the bait just on the bottom. It is advisable to introduce a small amount of groundbait at the start of the session, between four and eight small balls, and loose feed thereafter. It may be worth adding some extra groundbait if a number of cruisers pass. 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. Be aware that large fish patrol this canal and will test your equipment. The lighter the tackle the greater the catch. Be prepared to introduce heavier terminal tackle. A wide range of hook baits work in this canal, although white and red maggot, pinkies, casters and worm often work best. It is worth having corn on standby.
For advice contact Brian O'Donaghoe, Hon. Treasurer of the Royal Enfield CAC at Tel:+353 (0)46 9541911 (evening).

Fish Stocks
The Enfield match stretch boasts good stocks of tench, bream, roach, rudd and even some carp. Over the years this stretch has produced some notable match results. Kilmore is the first of the deep water stretches, with depths up to 1.9m and can turn up big weights from time to time; most notable weight was 50 kg in a five-hour match. The Longwood stretch is capable of producing large catches of big bream, particularly in August and September. During a recent 5 hour competition on this stretch, 50 anglers weighed in 362 kg of bream. Fern's Lock fishes better during the warm summer months, producing good catches of bream and tench. Historically, Blackshade was the main competition stretch used by the Club. It has since been used more for pleasure angling and has produced phenomenal weights for those anglers willing to walk a little. The Moyvalley stretch boasts good stocks of tench, roach and some bream in shallow water. The Cloncurry match stretch boasts a good spread of species and excellent access to every peg. The Kilcock stretch is a noteable winter match stretch, boasting good stocks of roach. Excellent access is available throughout. The Ballasport match stretch is the newest addition to the Royal Enfield angling venue list. The stretch was recently deepened and holds a big head of bream and tench.

Directions

Enfield Match Stretch
Turn off the N4 into Enfield village. Turn left immediately after the Railway bridge at a coarse fishing signpost onto a hardcore towpath. Continue along the towpath to the first gate (see
map 1).

Kilmore Stretch
Travel west from Enfield on the N4. Take the first major left turn approximately 1.5 km outside of Enfield before Moyvalley (see map 1). Some parking is available along the grass towpath and all pegs are easily accessible by foot.

Blackshade Stretch
Take the N4 west from Enfield for approximatly 15 km. Turn right at Clonard and follow the coarse fishing sign. Travel 2 km following signposts for Longwood. At Y-Junction, take left for Castlerickard/Trim for Blackshade bridge. Turn right, before the bridge onto a driveable towpath.

Ballasport Match Stretch
Take the N4 to Clonard. Turn right in Clonard at the coarse fishing sign and follow signposts for Hill of Down. Turn left. Continue through the junction with the R161, until reaching the canal at Ballasport Bridge. Access is available to every swim along a driveable hardcore towpath.

Longwood/Ribbontail Stretch
Travel west from Enfield on the N4. Approximately 2.6 km after Moyvalley take a right turn signposted for Longwood (R160). From here to a crossroads is 2.4 km, turn right for Longwood. The road passes under the canal at Roe's Bridge (see map 2), before swinging to the right. Ample parking is available at the harbour and the entire section is served by a hardcore towpath.

Moyvalley Match Stretch
Travel 6.1 km west from Enfield on the N4. Turn right into the car park at Furey's Pub, parking is available here. The match stretch begins after the car park. Access to every peg is within walking distance and is a very good summer evening stretch.

Cloncurry Match Stretch
Travel east from Enfield on the N4. Turning left at Cloncurry crossroads for Cloncurry bridge. Take an immediate right after the bridge. Parking is available on the towpath where the road separates from the canal.

Fern's Lock Stretch
Follow the N4 east from Enfield (see map 3). Turn left 8 km from Enfield, after the motorway sign. Take a right, (signposted for Summerhill). Cross level-crossing and turn left before the bridge. Parking is available at either side of the Locks. Access is along a grassy bank and gates must be kept closed at all times.

Kilcock Match Stretch
Kilcock is situated approximately 10 km east of Enfield. Take signposted turning off the N4. Match stretches are accessible from the town.

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

Royal Enfield Coarse Angling Club (RECAC)
Brian O'Donaghoe, Treasurer.
Enfield, Co. Meath.
Tel: +353 (0)46 9541911

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