5 Engineering and Topography
5.3 Canals
The Barrow line
of the Grand Canal runs south from Robertstown to Athy and
joins the River Barrow south of the town. The Barrow was a
significant commercial canalised waterway up to the 1960's,
with important river ports at Athy, Carlow, Graignamanagh
and New Ross. Barges carried consignments of malting barley
to Dublin as raw material for the Guinness Brewery, with the
resultant stout transported back downstream in its finished
state. Later beet-filled barges supplied Ireland's first sugar
factory at Carlow. In recent times the river has experienced
rejuvenation with a number of pleasure cruise operators locating
along its banks and an increase in recreational use.
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