Timeline

1703 Parliamentary Committee Established to bring a bill to make the Barrow Navigable. No action taken.

1709 Estimated that it would cost £3,000 to make the river Barrow navigable from Athy to the sea.

1759 Burgesses of Carlow petitioned Parliament for £2,000 to make Barrow navigable from Monsterevin to St. Mullins. Grant was approved. [no action]

1761 First Progress Report on the works to Parliament

c1763 Three miles of works completed from St. Mullins to within a mile of Graignamanagh

1767 Omer and Semple (Engineer in charge and overseer) had reported that more money was needed to complete work to Graignamanagh. Questioned more closely by Parliamentary Committee about (their need for extra funding)

1783 Work begins on Barrow Line by Grand Canal Company. Overseer was Bernard Mullins.

1783 Over £32,000 had been assigned and work had got as far as Clashganny.

1787 Commissioners of Inland Navigation abolished. Local Commissioners established to administer the navigation.

1790 Canal completed to Athy by Archibald Millar. 3,944 men working on the line

1790 Barrow Navigation Company incorporated by charter.

1790 Work progressed under direction of William Chapman. Entire trackway from St. Mullins - Athy completed

1800 Company in financial difficulty. Reduction in tolls for financial aid. Work went ahead.

1806 William Jessop inspects progress.

1809 Barrow Navigation Company attempted to operate passenger boats between Graignamanagh and Athy in conjuction with Grand Canal boats with hotels in Carlow and Graignamanagh. Service abandoned that year.

1810 Over £120,000 spent. More financial help was required. Directors General agreed to give £30,000 - half the estimated cost to achieve 5 foot navigation.

1813 Final instalment of grant refused by the Directors General. Only 3 feet of the projected 5 feet was achieved.

c1813 Barrow navigation tried to sell out to the Directors General. Offer turned down. Final instalment of grant refused.

1830 Tonnage carried on Barrow Navigation amounted to 58,100 tons
Trade increased despite difficulties 60,000 tons were achieved by 1830 as opposed to 16,000 tons in 1790.

1835 Barrow directors would not agree to discuss new railroad to Kilkenny, with Grand Directors. They did not want to oppose the Railway.

1836 New by-pass canal and lock constructed at Clogrennan.

1845 Statutory Restriction to operating as carriers on their own navigation, was removed.

1870 Dividends of profit of up to 6% declared.

1878 Barrow Navigation Company decided to restrict its trading to the river. High rates were being charged on the Grand Canal.

1894 Barrow Navigation Company sold out to Grand Canal Company for £30,000.

1894 Railway had taken over a great deal of Barrow Valley trade.