Heritage Events Archive

The inland waterways of Co Kildare are alive and well and will be buzzing with boats this coming October Bank Holiday weekend. 

Inland Waterways Association of Ireland (IWAI) Kildare will host it’s now annual Naas Canal Festival from Friday October 28th to Monday 31st. 

A large fleet of boats is expected to assemble in Sallins harbour on Friday followed by a parade along the Grand Canal, up through the flight of five locks into Naas harbour.  

The parade will leave Sallins at 11am and all boats should be in Naas harbour by 5pm

Festival Features

• Boat Light Up
• Fancy Dress
• Jim's Stew
• Small Boat Rally
• Heritage Boat History
• Music Night
• Coffee Morning
• Raffle in aid of The Irish Cancer Society

In the spirit of the founders of the IWAI, who established the Association in 1954 to campaign against the installation of fixed span bridges across the River Shannon, IWAI Kildare will use the Naas Canal Festival to showcase the leisure potential of the Grand Canal in this area. 

Whether your passion involves travelling through locks by boat, paddling a canoe, walking or cycling for health, wellbeing and enjoyment or waiting patiently for a bite on your fishing line, IWAI Kildare invites you to immerse yourself in the amazing engineering achievement that is the Grand Canal. 

Back to Archive