HERoNI Lecture

Bogs, Battles and Barges: 300 years of the Newry Canal The Newry Canal is the oldest summit canal in the UK and Ireland, completed in 1742. It is a rare surviving example of eighteenth century public infrastructure which has been modified and improved over the centuries. This Irish canal is often viewed in the same way as those in England as being founded on coal and the Industrial Revolution. This talk argues that linen and butter were more important in the life of the Newry Canal and that it is a surviving relic of the eighteenth century culture of improvement. The canal finally closed to traffic in the 1940s and fell into disrepair but it was never completely abandoned by those living near it. Since 2005 the Inland Waterways Association of Ireland has been campaigning for its restoration and volunteers have conserved and rewatered sections for recreational use and to preserve the infrastructure for future complete restoration. Biography Geraldine Foley is a founding member of IWAI Newry & Portadown which was formed to conserve and campaign for the restoration of the Newry Canal. Since 2005 she has performed many roles in the organisation and she is the unofficial historian for the group. In 2015 she went back to school and completed a BA in English and History with Ulster University, studying at SRC in Newry and for her dissertation studied the 18th century origins of the Newry Canal. Along with her fellow volunteers she is actively involved in promoting the canal for recreational use and also campaigning for a full restoration programme to be undertaken by the local councils that own the waterway.