River Barrow Boatmen

Commemorative brass plaque presented to each of the boatmen who attended the Carlow reunion.
[ photo: County Museum ccm 05-14-b. ]

During the course of the Heritage Boat Association’s visit to Carlow town the Canal Boatmen’s Reunion was also held in Carlow. The Canal Boatmen’s Reunion is the organisation of the former workers who operated the canal boats.

This Association gathered for their annual reunion on Sunday May 15th, 2005 in the Seven Oaks Hotel to remember times past and to commemorate their deceased colleagues. Among the boating memorabilia on display that day was an original Bolinder engine, this was the main engine type used on the canal boats and a number of replica boat models made by former boatman Pat McDonald.

Reunions have been held almost annually since 1986 and they had previously held their reunions in Carlow Town and Leighlinbridge.

Honouring the Barrow Boatmen

Presentation to the Barrow Boatmen.
[ photo: County Museum. ]

To honour their visit and contribution to local life, Carlow Town Council unveiled a commemorative plaque to the boatmen in the Town Park on Sunday 15th May.

" Now the Grand Canal is just the same old winding waterway
But it's old time navigators are now moldering in the clay
Those gentle old world boatmen who sailed those waters o'er
They have departed on a voyage from which they'll come no more

Though they are gone they've left us a memory sweet to save
While summer breezes whisper round their narrow silent graves
May they be with their Master and Heaven's light shine on
Those one time hardy sons of toil the boatmen that are gone

Now all you men who boat, remember ever more
You'll sail out on that same old track your father sailed before
And just like them will come the day for you to sail out on
That trip from which there's no return, Like the boatmen that are gone "

[ extract: The Boatmen that are Gone, by Kit Ennis. ]

Transport

Introduction One of the great legacies to modern transport lies with Carlow man William Dargan, who during the mid nineteenth century constructed more than 1,000 miles of Irish railway.

River Barrow Flowing through the county of Carlow are two important rivers, the Slaney in the east of the county and in the west, the second longest river in Ireland, the River Barrow.

River Barrow Boatmen The Canal Boatmen’s Reunion is the organisation of the former workers who operated the canal boats.

Heritage Boats The Heritage Boat Association has rescued and restored many of the former canal barges which had until 1960 operated on the inland waterways of Ireland.

Tullow Railway The railway development in the Dublin, South Kildare and Carlow region began in 1861.

Motorways Thursday 11th May 2006 was a modern day historical event for County Carlow when Martin Cullen, Minister for Transport turned the sod on the new N9 Carlow Town Bypass.

Image gallery

Most people are facinated by culture and heritage because they see the world around them and ponder how it came to this. Culture and heritage are a light that illuminates the present and directs attention toward the possibilities of the future. The image gallery promotes awareness of our built, natural and cultural heritage through a collection of historcial photographs recording the events of times past. About us…