Tralee Ship Canal
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2018}}
{{Infobox Canal
|name = Tralee Ship Canal
{{Font color|Green|Longchanáil Thrá Lí}}
|image = Tralee Ship Canal, Blennerville - geograph.org.uk - 521336.jpg
|image_caption = Tralee Ship Canal from the swing bridge at Blennerville, County Kerry
|former_names =
|modern_name =
|original_owner =
|engineer =
|other_engineer =
|date_act =
|date_began = 1832
|date_use =
|date_completed = 1846
|date_extended =
|date_closed = 1951
|date_restored = 1999
|len_ft =
|len_in =
|original_boat_length_ft =
|original_boat_length_in =
|len_note =
|beam_ft =
|beam_in =
|original_beam_ft =
|original_beam_in =
|beam_note =
|start_point = Tralee
|original_start =
|start_note =
|end_point = Blennerville
|original_end =
|end_note =
|branch =
|branch_of =
|connects_to = Tralee Bay
|length_km = 3.2
|locks = 1
|original_num_locks =
|lock_note =
|elev_ft =
|elev_note =
|status = Open
|navigation_authority = Unknown
| coordinates = {{coord | 52.2584| -9.7355 |region:IE-KY_type:river| display = it}}
}}
The Tralee Ship Canal ({{Langx|ga|Longchanáil Thrá Lí}}) is a canal built for freight and passenger transportation from Tralee Bay to the town of Tralee in County Kerry, Ireland. The canal fell into disuse in the mid-20th century but has since been restored.
History
{{Infobox UK legislation
| short_title = {{visible anchor|Tralee Harbour Act 1828}}
| type = Act
| parliament = Parliament of the United Kingdom
| long_title = An Act for making and maintaining a Navigable Cut or Canal from a Point at or near the Blackrock in the Harbour of Tralee, in the County of Kerry, to Croompanrikard, near the Town of Tralee, in the said County; and for otherwise improving the said Harbour of Tralee.
| year = 1828
| citation = 9 Geo. 4. c. cxviii
| introduced_commons =
| introduced_lords =
| territorial_extent =
| royal_assent = 15 July 1828
| commencement =
| expiry_date =
| repeal_date =
| amends =
| replaces =
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| theyworkforyou =
| millbankhansard =
| original_text = https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukla/Geo4/9/118/pdfs/ukla_18280118_en.pdf
| revised_text =
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| collapsed = yes
}}
{{Infobox UK legislation
| short_title = {{visible anchor|Tralee Navigation and Harbour Act 1836}}
| type = Act
| parliament = Parliament of the United Kingdom
| long_title = An Act to extend the Time limited by an Act passed in the Ninth Year of the Reign of His late Majesty King George the Fourth,[p] for improving the Navigation and Harbour of Tralee in the County of Kerry.
| year = 1836
| citation = 6 & 7 Will. 4. c. cxiv
| introduced_commons =
| introduced_lords =
| territorial_extent =
| royal_assent = 4 July 1836
| commencement =
| expiry_date =
| repeal_date =
| amends = {{ubli|Tralee Harbour Act 1828}}
| replaces =
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| related_legislation =
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| original_text = https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukla/Will4/6-7/114/pdfs/ukla_18360114_en.pdf
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| collapsed = yes
}}
{{Infobox UK legislation
| short_title = {{visible anchor|Tralee Navigation Act 1841}}
| type = Act
| parliament = Parliament of the United Kingdom
| long_title = An Act to empower the Commissioners for the Issue of Exchequer Bills for public Works to complete the Works authorized to be made by an Act of the Sixth and Seventh Years of His late Majesty King William the Fourth, for improving the Navigation and Harbour of Tralee in the County of Kerry; and to extend the Time for that Purpose.
| year = 1841
| citation = 4 & 5 Vict. c. 46
| introduced_commons =
| introduced_lords =
| territorial_extent =
| royal_assent = 21 June 1841
| commencement =
| expiry_date =
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| amends = {{ubli|Tralee Navigation and Harbour Act 1836}}
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| collapsed = yes
}}
{{Infobox UK legislation
| short_title = {{visible anchor|Tralee Navigation and Harbour Act 1844}}
| type = Act
| parliament = Parliament of the United Kingdom
| long_title = An Act to extend the Time limited by an Act passed in the Fourth and Fifth Years of Her present Majesty, empowering the Commissioners for the Issue of Exchequer Bills for Public Works to complete the Works for improving the Navigation and Harbour of Tralee in the County of Kerry.
| year = 1844
| citation = 7 & 8 Vict. c. 99
| introduced_commons =
| introduced_lords =
| territorial_extent =
| royal_assent = 9 August 1844
| commencement =
| expiry_date =
| repeal_date =
| amends = {{ubli|Tralee Navigation Act 1841}}
| replaces =
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}}
{{Infobox UK legislation
| short_title = {{visible anchor|Tralee Canal Act 1864}}
| type = Act
| parliament = Parliament of the United Kingdom
| long_title = An Act for empowering the Commissioners of the Harbour of Tralee to raise Money, and for other Purposes.
| year = 1864
| citation = 27 & 28 Vict. c. cxxxi
| introduced_commons =
| introduced_lords =
| territorial_extent =
| royal_assent = 30 June 1864
| commencement =
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| repealing_legislation =
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| theyworkforyou =
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| original_text = https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukla/Vict/27-28/131/pdfs/ukla_18640131_en.pdf
| revised_text =
| use_new_UK-LEG =
| UK-LEG_title =
| collapsed = yes
}}
The Tralee Ship Canal was built to accommodate larger ships sailing into Tralee since the existing quay in Blennerville was becoming unpractical to use due to silting. Merchants in Tralee were not satisfied with its facilities and petitioned the House of Commons to authorise an act of Parliament in June 1829 for the construction of a canal. Work on the canal began in 1832 but issues with funding meant the canal was not completed until 1846 when it was finally opened to ships. The canal was {{Convert | 2 | mi}} in length with a new canal basin built in Tralee, lock gates and a wooden swing bridge constructed in Blennerville. Large ships of up to 300 tonnes could navigate the canal but not long after the canal opened it too began to suffer from silting. By the 1880s Fenit harbour was built which was a deep water harbour and did not suffer from silting. Soon afterwards a railway was constructed between Fenit and Tralee which allowed for the transport of cargo and freight from ships moored there. Due to continued silting of the canal and the increased use of Fenit the canal fell into disuse and was subsequently closed in 1951.{{cite web|url=http://www.focuskerry.com/james/canal.html|title=Blennerville to Tralee Canal & Marina - County Kerry, Ireland|website=www.focuskerry.com|accessdate=23 August 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://www.askaboutireland.ie/learning-zone/primary-students/looking-at-places/kerry/kerry-transport/tralee-ship-canal/|title=Tralee Ship Canal|website=www.askaboutireland.ie|accessdate=23 August 2017}}
Restoration
Following the restoration of Blennerville Windmill in the early 1990s it was envisaged that the canal could be restored as a tourist attraction. In 1999 the Office of Public Works (OPW) started a restoration project of the canal at a cost of IR£650,000. It involved the excavation of the basin, a new swing bridge constructed at Blennerville, the lock gates being restored and the canal being dredged of silt. The basin area of the canal was subsequently redeveloped with apartment blocks built as part of a proposed marina while the towpath along the canal was upgraded and is now used by people as an enjoyable amenity as part of the Dingle Way. Tralee Rowing Club use the canal and have a boathouse at the basin.{{cite web |date=29 January 1999 |work=Dáil Éireann Debate: Vol. 499 No. 1 |url=http://oireachtasdebates.oireachtas.ie/debates%20authoring/debateswebpack.nsf/takes/dail1999012700439?opendocument |title=Written Answers. - Tralee Ship Canal Project |publisher=Oireachtas |accessdate=23 August 2017}}
File:Tralee Ship Canal - geograph.org.uk - 268382.jpg|The Basin at the end of the Tralee Ship Canal
File:Tralee Ship Canal, Blennerville - geograph.org.uk - 521348.jpg|Looking towards Tralee Bay from the swing bridge at Blennerville
File:Sea lock, Tralee Canal - geograph.org.uk - 1415873.jpg|Lock Gate towards Tralee Bay