IT may lag behind a cruise along the Mediterranean for tourist appeal, but volunteers working on the Newry canal hope that months of efforts will eventually lead to boats operating between Pontzypass and Scarva.
Work on replacing two lock gates at either side of a stretch of the canal is "due to be completed within a fortnight" if weather holds, according to the group behind the project.
Peter Maxwell, chairman of the Newry and Portadown branch of the Inland Waterways Association of Ireland, said that a team entirely composed of volunteers had been working on the canal since February.
He said: "At the Scarva end there are no gates and haven’t been for 10 years. At the Pontzypass end there is one gate in a totally derelict condition. We hope to be finished within a fortnight, but the rainfall at the weekend held us back."
"We manufactured the gates with voluntary labour, and keep in mind that most of our volunteers have bus passes. Armagh and Banbridge councils, before their merger, each gave us the money for the materials."
Mr Maxwell added: "These gates will only hold back 1m of water, but that will give enough water to allow people to canoe and take out a small boat."
Other statutory agencies, such as the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, have been involved in setting conditions for the project, as the Newry canal is listed as a scheduled monument.
Around 15 volunteers, mostly retired, have assisted with the task, but some hardy souls have taken to volunteering at the weekend after a full working week.
Mr Maxwell, who sailed extensively before volunteering with the group, said that the area presents a "massive tourist opportunity."
He said: "We are not doing any dredging, but if we can raise the profile, we hope to encourage government departments and others which have money to do something."
Mr Maxwell added: "We would like to develop a space for tents and where people could run or go for a walk. This is the future - blueways - that would give the canal an income. There is a massive tourist opportunity here."
The group have already earmarked three other points along the canal they themselves would like to carry out work on, but whatever happens in future, the gates project represents "history in the making."
