The Royal Canal is a unique navigable waterway in the heart of Dublin. Constructed before the invention of the locomotive, this historical stretch of waterway enabled the expansion of trade and travel as far as the royal county Meath (from which it gets its name) and beyond to the River Shannon. The stretch of the Royal Canal that lies in the Fingal catchment area was one of the most arduous stretches of canal to construct in either Britain or Ireland.
The intricate network of canals has attracted ever-increasing interest over recent decades with both local community groups and governments realizing their value in today’s society. Many canals have been partly restored to reveal some of their former glory. But it is not only the waterways themselves that are being appreciated and protected, their accompanying tow paths, locks and landscape settings are also being appreciated and protected. The stretch of the Royl Canal that lies in the Fingal catchment area creates many unique habitats and is home to many forms of plants and wildlife. This includes the majestic and allusive kingfisher, bats and otters.
I am calling on Fingal County council to also recognize the unique asset that we have on our doorstep in terms of the Royal Canal and to afford it the protection that it deserves and would most likely get if it was in the care of any other local authority. Please reinstate the 200-meter protection zone to the banks of the Royal Canal that was previously contained in FCC's 2008 Royal Canal Strategy document.