Royal Canal of Ireland
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The Royal Canal (An Chanáil Ríoga in Irish) is a canal originally built for freight and passenger transportation from the River Liffey at Dublin to the River Shannon in the Republic of Ireland. Work commenced in 1790 and lasted 27 years before finally reached the river Shannon in 1817.The canal passes through Maynooth, Enfield and Mullingar and has a spur to Longford. There is one main feeder (from Lough Owel) joining the canal at Mullingar. In 2006 a commeration marker was erected at Piper's Boreen, Mullingar, to mark the 200 years since the canal reached Mullingar in 1806. The canal is notable in that the Dublin - Mullingar railway line was built alongside the canal for much of the distance. The meandering route of the canal ensures a speed limiting curvature for the railway. The canal was bought by the Midland Great Western Railway to provide a route to the West of Ireland, originally planning to close the canal and build the railway along its bed. The total cost of building the canal was £1,421,954.Today Waterways Ireland is responsible for the canal.
The other main canal in Ireland is the Grand Canal from Dublin's southside through the Midlands to the River Shannon.
The canal is currently being repaired, and it is intended to reopen it for navigation of its full length (from the Shannon to Dublin) by Summer 2008.
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