Waterways Ireland 2014 Sponsorship Programme opened on 30 October 2013. The programme is designed to support events taking place along the Lower Bann Navigation, the Erne System, the Shannon-Erne Waterway, the Shannon Navigation, the Barrow Navigation, the Grand Canal and the Royal Canal.
Taking place annually for the past eight years the Waterways Ireland Sponsorship Programme has supported angling, canoeing, rowing, sailing and power-sports; competitions, learning experiences, historical and educational activities.
Éanna Rowe, Head of Marketing and Communications with Waterways Ireland stated that “Communities, clubs and associations in towns and villages, along rural waterways and in waterside urban centres, have participated in small and large events. Huge numbers of people have been encouraged to experience something new about the waterways.” Mr Rowe added “ “the myriad of events supported by Waterways Ireland play a significant role from both an economic and social standpoint in underpinning and supporting the waterway communities and recreational activity along Ireland’s Inland Waterways’.
Applications are open to anyone wishing to run recreational waterway and waterside events. The application pack can be downloaded from the ‘Do it Online’ section of www.waterwaysireland.org or posted out by contacting Damien McWeeney by email at damien.mcweeney@
WaterwaysIreland, the North/South Implementation Body is responsible for the management, maintenance, development and restoration of the inland navigable waterway systems throughout the island of Ireland, principally for recreational purposes.