Angling

Royal Canal

Angling on the Royal Canal

Angling is the premier recreational activity on the Royal Canal with multiple hotspots and competitive stretches along its length.

Hotspot Guides

Leixlip

Enfield

Mullingar

Fish Types

Roach
Size: Weigh up to 2 kgs.
Features: Roach are easily identified by their silver colour, red fins and red eyes.
Baits: Maggots, casters, bread, paste, sweetcorn, worms.
Specimen Weight: 0.907 kgs
Irish Record: 1.425 kgs

Bream
Size: Weigh up to 7 kgs.
Features: Adult Bream are recognised by their bronze colour, black fins and protruding upper jaw, while young bream or 'skimmers' differ from adults due to their silver colouring.
Baits: Maggots, worms, casters, sweetcorn, bread, paste.
Specimen Weight: 3.402 kgs
Irish Record: 5.528 kgs

Tench
Size: Weigh up to 5 kgs.
Features: distinguishing red eyes and are a dark olive or blackish colour with rounded fins and an almost unforked tail.
Baits: Maggots, casters, sweetcorn, bread, paste, worms, mini boilies.
Specimen Weight: 2.722 kgs
Irish Record: 3.697 kgs
8
Rudd
Size: Rudd weigh up to 2.5 kgs.
Features: A rudd can be identified by their golden green hue, scarlet fins and protruding lower jaw.
Baits: Maggots, bread, casters, sweetcorn, paste, worms, flies.
Specimen Weight: 1.021 kgs
Irish Record: 2.041 kgs

Perch
Size: Perch weigh up to 3 kgs.
Features: easily identified by the olive green colour and distinctive vertical black stripes on the flanks and reddish colour fins. The fins have sharp spines.
Baits: Worms, maggots, casters, small dead fish and a range of spanning baits.
Specimen Weight: 1.2 kgs
Irish Record: 2.495 kgs

Pike
Size: Pike weigh up to 20 kgs and can grow up to 1.3m. Females are normally larger.
Features: Streamlined olive green, torpedo shaped body & white belly. With a large broad mouth with rows of backward pointing sharp teeth.
Baits: Range of deadbaits, spinners and plugs including jerkbaits, flies.
Specimen Weight:
Irish Record:
Lake: 13.608 kgs
River: 9.072 kgs
Lake: 19.391 kgs
River: 19.051 kgs

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General Notices
Waterways Ireland manages the Royal Canal under the No. 3/1986 – Canals Act, 1986; which details the duties, powers and responsibilities of the organisation and the boat owner.
Bridges
Bridges
Airdraft: 3m (2.1m at Sherriff St, Spencer Dock)
Lowest Bridge: Sherriff St, Spencer Dock
Railway Bridge
The Newcomen Lift Bridge in Spencer Dock is owned and operated by Irish Rail, and requires a rail possession to be lifted. It can only be lifted for boats at limited prearranged times organised with Waterways Ireland. For details of opening times and to arrange passage contact the Eastern Regional Office on 01 868 0148.
Dry Docks
Location:
There are currently no Dry Dock facilities available on the Royal Canal.
Dry Dock Access
Electricity & Water
Electricity shore power bollards are available at Richmond Harbour with priority given to Locaboat.
How to use Shore Power Bollard.
Fuel Points
Fuel is available from garages adjacent to the canal.
Inspectorate
The Waterways Ireland Inspectorate are responsible for the enforcement of the Bye-laws relating to each waterway. They issue Marine Notices, Permits and enforce compliance with the bye-laws as required.
The Assistant Inspector responsible for the Royal Canal is Liam Sherringham, Harbour St, Tullamore Co Offaly Tel no +353 (087) 286 5726 or email liam.sherringham@waterwaysireland.org
Locks
Length & No of Locks
Main Line: 146km with 46 locks
Longford Branch: 8km with no locks

Opening Hours of Locks Daylight Hours
Navigation Dimensions      Length of locks: 21m
                                        Beam of locks: 3.9m
                                        Draft: 1m

Draft dimensions are given as a guide only and cannot be guaranteed.
Boats travelling through Dublin, Spencer Dock and Locks 1-12.
For boats intending to pass through Spencer Dock, Locks 1-12 (including 8 double locks) and in or out of Dublin, 4 weeks prior notice must be given to the Eastern Regional Office on +353 (0)1 868 0148.

All the locks on the Royal Canal, Grand Canal & Barrow Navigation are operated
manually. Please ensure that you have a lock key to operate the lock, adequate crew
to manage your boat, and good stop ropes and mooring ropes. Lock keys at a cost
of €25 can be purchased from:
Eastern Regional Office
Floor 2 Block C, Ashtowngate, Navan Road, Dublin 15
Tel no +353 (0)1 868 0148

Contact the Water Patroller if you require assistance in making your passage
Spencer Dock
Mark Clarke
(087) 258 4713
Locks 1 - 17
P J Massey
(087) 985 7019
Locks 18 - 40
Billy Dixon
(087) 618 2104
Locks 41 - 46
Paddy Dixon
(087) 915 1400
Maintenance Works
Maintenance works on the waterways are, where possible, carried out during the winter. When navigating any waterway between 1 November and 17 March you are advised to contact Waterways Ireland Operations Division or the Inspectorate before making your journey to confirm that the waterway is open.

For further information on navigating and boat queries contact the Inspectorate:
Assistant Inspector of Navigation
Waterways Ireland, Harbour Street, Tullamore, Co Offaly
Tel no +353 (0)57 935 2300
Marine Notices
Marine Notices are used by Waterways Ireland to inform the public of changes to the usage of the waterways and may be permanent or temporary. Temporary notices are followed by a withdrawal notice to inform customers of the end to the impediment to navigation. If you would like to receive Marine Notices by email, please send a request to inspectorate.athlone@waterwaysireland.org
Marine Notices
Permits and Registration
On the Royal Canal all boats must display a valid Combined Mooring and Passage Permit. This annual Permit includes mooring and lock passage charges and is the only permit required if boats intend to cruise continuously staying 5days or less in any one location. Boats intending to stay more than five days in any one location will require an Extended Mooring Permit.

Combined Mooring & Passage Permit €126
Extended Mooring & Passage €152
You can apply for a Canal Permit by downloading the application online here. You can request a copy in the post from Waterways Ireland, Harbour St, Tullamore, Co Offaly Ph: +353 (0)57 93 52300.
Public Mooring Time Limits
On the Royal Canal a boat holding a Combined Mooring & Passage Permit can moor at the same public mooring or within 500 metres of the same place for 5 days.
Service Blocks
There are service blocks on the Royal Canal at Richmond Harbour, Enfield, Mullingar, and Ballynacargy.
The services are operated by a smart card and include:
Toilets: free (but card is required for access at night)
Showers: 2 units
Laundry facilities (Richmond Harbour): washing x 5 units and drying x 5 units
Smart Cards can be purchased from the lockkeeper on Tel no +353 (0)87 618 2104 and +353 (0)87 915 1400, purchased online from www.shopwaterwaysireland.org or from local outlets.
Slipways
Slipways faciliate access to the Royal Canal and can be found at
M50 Aquaduct
Amenity Area, Confey
Maynooth Harbour
Enfield
Thomastown Harbour
Mullingar
Ballinea Bridge
Ballynacargy
Webbs Bridge
Smart Cards
Smart cards are used to operate the locks on the Shannon-Erne Waterway and the Shannon Navigation and service blocks along the waterways. The cards are also used to gain access to the service blocks and to use the services.
Services use the following number of units:
• Locks: 1 unit (Shannon-Erne Waterway)
• Locks: 2 units (Shannon Navigation)
• Bridges: 2 units (Shannon Navigation)
• Pump-outs: 2 units
• Showers: 2 units
• Chemical Toilets: 2 units
• Washing Machines: 5 units
• Tumble Dryers: 5 units
• 2kwh Electricity: 1 unit
The smart cards cost €6.35 for a 10Unit card or €12.70 for a 20Unit card and can be purchased from the Patrollers, Lockkeepers, Waterways Ireland’s online shop www.shopwaterwaysireland.org and retail outlets along the waterway. Information on all outlets can be found here.
Speed Limit and your Wash
You are asked to consider the wash of your boat and its effect on others. All engine-powered boats create a wave of water, known as a wash, which flows outwards from the boat as it moves forward. Look behind you frequently to check the effect that your wash is having on other users. You are advised to reduce your speed in narrow channels to prevent bank erosion, damage to reed beds and destruction of birds' nests among reed and bank habitats. Slow down where boats are moored, when approaching quays, jetties or locks or where water activities are taking place.
Entering the waterway from the sea
Entrance to the Royal Canal from the Sea Entrance to the Royal Canal is via the River Liffey and the Sea Lock at Spencer Dock.
For assistance with locks, contact the lock-keepers on the numbers below:

Spencer Dock Mark Clarke (087) 258 4713
Locks 1 - 17 P J Massey (087) 985 7019
Locks 18 - 40 Billy Dixon (087) 618 2104
Locks 41 - 46 Paddy Dixon (087) 915 1400

Posted: 28/09/2023

Marine Notice No 101 of 2023 - Royal Canal - The Downs - Temporary closure of lifting bridge until 12 October 2023

Notice Number 101 of 2023

Posted: 12/09/2023

Marine Notice No 92 of 2023 -AMENDED_ Royal Canal - Kilcock - Canoe Polo Event – Saturday 16th & 17th September 2023

Notice Number 92 of 2023

Posted: 14/04/2023

MN_27_2023_Royal Canal_Dublin_Newcomen Bridge Lift Dates 2023

Notice Number 27 of 2023

Posted: 14/04/2023

MN_28_2023_Royal Canal_Dublin_Navigation Restriction_Lock 10

Notice Number 28 of 2023

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