From our archives: 70 years ago

Saturday, January 16

1954

At a public meeting, held in the Shelbourne Hotel, Dublin, on Thursday of last week, and attended by over 200 people from all parts of the country, an Irish Inland Waterways' Association was formed.

Speakers from all parts of the country stressed the urgent necessity of reviving water travel and'repairing the present navigation. ' During the meeting, a resolution to the effect that "this Association is resolutely opposed to any attempt to amend the Shannon Navigation Acts so as to allow the obstruction of the navigation with particular reference to the proposed erection of a fixed bridge in Athlone, proposed by Mr. P. J. Lenihan, Managing Director, General Textiles, Ltd., Athlone, and seconded by Mr. Kennedy, was passed unanimously. The apathy of the public to the fate of the inland waterways was mentioned by a number of speakers and stressed by the President, Col. H. J. Rice, Coosan, Athlone, who referred to the tremendous asset which the country possessed in its waterways.