Newry Canal

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Victoria Lock at the entrance to Newry ship canal in Carlingford Lough

The Newry Canal, located in Northern Ireland, was built to link the Tyrone coalfields (via Lough Neagh and the River Bann) to the Irish Sea at Carlingford Lough near Newry. It was the first summit-level canal to be built in the British Isles since Roman times. It was constructed between 1731 and 1742, pre-dating the more famous Bridgewater Canal by nearly thirty years. The first engineer was Richard Cassels he was replaced by Thomas Steers.

As the Lower Bann drains Lough Neagh north into the Atlantic Ocean and the Newry Canal (with a bit of the Upper Bann) connects it south to the Irish Sea, the whole system taken as a whole can be conceived speculatively and imaginatively to cut off the old Counties Down and Antrim as an island separate from the rest of Ireland.

With the coming of the railways in the 1850s, the canal went into decline, and finally closed to commercial traffic in the late 1930's. Some sections have steadily fallen into a state of disrepair since then. Although most of the lock gates have long since rotted away, many of the locks themselves are in excellent condition, being constructed from local granite rather than the brick more usual in the rest of the British isles in the 1700s. (Most were in fact originally built from brick, but the standard of construction was so poor that they were soon rebuilt in granite). It is now overgrown for much of its length; however, this means that it is now a haven for wildlife, and with the construction of broad paths is enjoying a renaissance, with many families and individuals using these for walking and cycling. The towpath has been incorporated into the National Cycle Network. The Newry section of the canal remains the most vandalised and unsightly part of the canal. Although several locks have been restored to their original appearance, however local anti-social behaviour and a lack of interest and action from Newry and Mourne District Council, has allowed this section to get worse.

Various schemes have been mooted in recent years to restore the canal and open it to leisure traffic, but as yet (2006) nothing has been approved. However with the recent announcement that the Ulster Canal will be re-developed and re-opened, it is hoped interest will once again be renewed,in the Newry Canal.

The canal tow path is maintained by two wardens throughout the year.