Noel recalls the revival of the Royal Canal during World War 2 or 'The Emergency' when horse draw barges were used to transport goods from the country into and out of Dublin. The old canal boats had big long ropes going from the boats to the horses. He talks about how the ropes from all the horse pulling wore into the stonework as the rope caught the edge going under the bridges over 200 years. He also speaks about learning to swim in the Royal Canal.

Noel Spain (Early Memories Of The Royal Canal)

George recalls his working life as a Dock man in the Grand Canal Docks, a job he did for 40 years.

George Brierley (Change On The Docks)

Jim Gill 05 February 2016  (Boatman's Song)

In this piece of audio, you will hear Fred Tiernan from Kiladeas, Irvinestown, Co. Fermanagh.  Fred was born on Inniscoonra Island on Lower Lough Erne, where he lived until he was 18 years old.  Here, Fred speaks about the connection between Lough Erne and World War II where the RAF (Royal Air Force) had base during the war.  He also speaks about the ML Endeavour which was the largest clinker built boat ever built on Lough Erne.  The ML Endeavour was used to service flying boats during WWII.  Fred discusses the local social memory associated with World War II and the activity on Lough Erne during this period.

Fred TIernan Fermanagh 30 October 2015 (RAF On Lough Erne)

In this piece of audio, you will hear Edward Montgomery Representative in Ireland for the Honourable the Irish Society since 1996 and also managing director of Bann System Ltd, its fishery subsidiary.  Here, Edward speaks about the role of the bailiffs and the gillies who work for the Honourable, The Irish Society and emphasises the issue of poaching (illegal fishing).

WIOHP 004 3 Edward Montgomery Coleraine 29 Oct 2015 Bailiffs And Gillies

In this piece of audio, you will hear from Brian Cassells, a historian from Lurgan who was born 'within a stone's throw of the Lough' (Neagh).  In this clip, Brian speaks about the Ulster Canal, outlines its history, decline and it potential for the future.

WIOHP 001 12 Brian Cassells Lurgan 29 October 2015 (Ulster Canal History)

In this piece of audio, you will hear Chisty Bolger, a baker and former boatman from Graiguenamanagh, County Kilkenny.  Christy speaks about the Lock Keeper Essie Conroy who operated the lock at Lowtown, Couny Kildare.  Essie is remembered by many of the older people who worked the canals in the past.  She became Lock Keeper in 1970 when her brother Thomas died.  When Essie retired in 1983, her son James took over the lock. A lock keeper was someone employed to attend and maintain a lock on a river or canal in the past when all locks were manually operated.

WIOHP 002 3 Christy Bolger 05 February 2016  (Essie Conroy)

In this piece of audio, you will hear Tommy Holland from Nutgrove in Whitegate, County Clare.  Tommy has always had a love of waterways and grew up next to Lough Derg.  His mother Ellen was from an island close to where Tommy later grew up.  He is also a local historian.  In this clip, Tommy recalls his experiences of taking cattle on a cot across the lough.

WIOHP 021 6 Tommy Holland 22 January 2016 (Cattle Cots And Physical Work)

In this piece of audio, you will hear George Brierley, a retired Dock Master from Dublin.  The interview the clip is taken from an interivew that took place at the Dock Master's House, Grand Canal Dock in Dublin.  Here, you will hear George explain the hierarchy of the workers on the docks from a boatman to the dock master (who had to have been a skipper of a ship).  He recalls Captain McGurk who was the first Dock master he worked for.  George describes in detail the nature of work for the dockmen and dock master.   George spent forty years as a dockman and recalls the many changes he witnessed in this time.

WIOHP 007 6 George Brierley 19 Oct 2015  (Hierarchy On The Docks)

Christy speaks about the Lock Keeper Essie Conroy who operated the lock at Lowtown, Couny Kildare.  Essie is remembered by many of the older people who worked the canals in the past.  She became Lock Keeper in 1970 when her brother Thomas died.  When Essie retired in 1983, her son James took over the lock.

Christy Bolger 05 February 2016 (Essie Conroy)

Fred TIernan Fermanagh 30 October 2015 (Boat Builders)

George Morrissey (Big Freeze 1947)

Ruth Delany 05 October 2015 - War Time Child And Intro To Waterway

McMahon, Tommy 28 Oct 2015 (Childhood Memories)

WIOHP 012 4 Jim Gill 05 February 2016  (Tom Rock Gill)

WIOHP 005 10 Fintan Hanson Castledawson 29 Oct 2015  (Learning From Elders)

WIOHP 006 7 Fred TIernan Fermanagh 30 October 2015 (Legend Of Goat Island)

WIOHP 008 5 George Morrissey Belturbet 28 Oct 2015  (Cots On The Erne And Paddy Gunn)

WIOHP 010 10 James Scully 16 November 2015 Police Stations Along The Grand Canal)

Navigation Authority for over 1000km of Ireland's inland Waterways 

Waterways Ireland

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