Barrow Navigation - River and Lateral Canal

The River Barrow is the second longest river in Ireland. It is about 192 kilometres (or 120 miles) long. The Barrow is navigable from Athy to St. Mullins. South of St. Mullins, before the river enters the sea it is tidal and dangerous for navigation. In the eighteenth Century the idea was proposed that the River Barrow could be an important transport and commercial route.

Close-up of the flour mill in Cloghristick

Close up view of the flour mill in Cloghristick, County Carlow, located just upstream from the Milford Mills in Ballygowan. Cloghristick is a townland on the east side of the river Barrow. The flour mill in Cloghristick was also owned by the Alexander family. The Cloghristick building has not been used as a mill since the 19th century, although a local co-operative creamery apparently operated from it in the 1890s. The building was taken over around 1890 by an English company, Messrs TEH Gordon, who built an electricity generating plant in front of it to supply public lighting in Carlow Town. This was subsequently taken over by the Alexanders until being taken over by the ESB in 1928.

Carlow County Library

Close-up of the flour mill in Cloghristick
Carlow County Library

Close-up of the flour mill in Cloghristick

Close up view of the flour mill in Cloghristick, County Carlow, located just upstream from the Milford Mills in Ballygowan. Cloghristick is a townland on the east side of the river Barrow. The flour mill in Cloghristick was also owned by the Alexander family. The Cloghristick building has not been used as a mill since the 19th century, although a local co-operative creamery apparently operated from it in the 1890s. The building was taken over around 1890 by an English company, Messrs TEH Gordon, who built an electricity generating plant in front of it to supply public lighting in Carlow Town. This was subsequently taken over by the Alexanders until being taken over by the ESB in 1928.

Carlow County Library

Enlarge image

William Chapman investigated the course of the river and his "Report on the means of perfecting the Navigation of the River Barrow from St. Mullins' to Athy" was published in 1789. In it, he stated that rivers which are particularly suited to navigation are those "that have their general sources in low grounds and a moderate declivity to the sea". They were suitable in other words, because they were neither subject to flooding nor to "dryness of their channels". However, the works on the River Barrow required considerable engineering skill. An example of Chapman's detailed recommendations describes the works near Carlow town thus: "The lock may be placed below the lower coal yards and the weir run to the peninsula below the Burrin through which, to preserve the Mills, a new channel for the latter River must be cut". The navigability of the Barrow required many improvements to be made.

Graiguecullen Bridge on the Barrow

Graiguecullen Bridge, formerly known as Wellington Bridge. It dates from 1815. It has fine elliptical arches. One arch is separated from the others. It crosses over a small island in the River Barrow upon which a 19th Century house is built. It links Carlow with Graiguecullen on the County Laois side of the River.

Carlow County Library

Graiguecullen Bridge on the Barrow
Carlow County Library

Graiguecullen Bridge on the Barrow

Graiguecullen Bridge, formerly known as Wellington Bridge. It dates from 1815. It has fine elliptical arches. One arch is separated from the others. It crosses over a small island in the River Barrow upon which a 19th Century house is built. It links Carlow with Graiguecullen on the County Laois side of the River.

Carlow County Library

Enlarge image

The riverbed had to be excavated to a depth of 5 feet in the centre. Routes had to be straightened along it course and locks and bridges had to be constructed. There are 23 locks (22 single and 1 double lock) along the Barrow Navigation. Examples of locks are those at Maganey near where the River Greese enters the Barrow, Carlow lock, Milford lock and Clashganny lock, south of Borris. At Milford the river flows through beautiful wooded countryside. There is a seven-foot or 2.1 metre fall at Milford lock. Milford Mills were established there in 1790 by the Alexander family.

An important bridge on the Barrow is Carlow Bridge built in 1569. It was widened in 1815 and re-named Wellington bridge. It is now called Graiguecullen Bridge.

Clashganny Lock on River Barrow

Picturesque view of Clashgranny Lock with cantilever bridge on the River Barrow, County Carlow. Work on the Barrow Navigation was completed as far as Clashganny in 1783. There is a fall of 5 feet, 5 inches or 1.6 metres at this point.

Carlow County Library

Clashganny Lock on River Barrow
Carlow County Library

Clashganny Lock on River Barrow

Picturesque view of Clashgranny Lock with cantilever bridge on the River Barrow, County Carlow. Work on the Barrow Navigation was completed as far as Clashganny in 1783. There is a fall of 5 feet, 5 inches or 1.6 metres at this point.

Carlow County Library

Enlarge image

Another feature of the Barrow Navigation are the lateral canals. A lateral canal is a separate navigational channel designed to follow the course of the river where the river itself is not suitable for canalisation. An example of a lateral canal can be seen at Clashganny. In total there are 17.7 kilometres or 11 miles in lateral canals along the Barrow Navigation.

The navigable channel itself or "boatstream" of the river runs about 3 metres out from the towpath on the river's bank. It was constructed by dredging a channel along the riverbed. The towpath is a path along a river or canal from which barges were towed by horse. The towpath along the Barrow through Carlow is known as the "Barrow Track".

Lock houses where the lock keepers lived are another important feature of the Barrow Navigation. The Lock house at Maganey is still in occupation. Those at Ballyellin and Borris are single storey, cottage style dwellings. The lock house at St. Mullins is built in a classical style and is two storey in construction. It was designed by Thomas Omer, an engineer of the Inland Navigation Commissioners in the 1760's.

The Barrow Navigation was transferred to C.I.E. (Córas Iompair Eireann) in 1950, later in 1986 to O.P.W. (The Office of Public Works). Inland Waterways are now under the Heritage Council and funded by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government.