There are no prizes for guessing which of the two projects would be the popular winner were it to be put to a vote.

    However, at the headquarters of Waterways Ireland in Darling Street, Enniskillen, they live in hope that one day there will be enough cash in the coffers of the British and Irish Governments to float their baby.

    As its chief executive, Mr. John Martin, points out, the waterways of Ireland course through some of the most isolated and disadvantaged parts of the country. In the past the rivers, canals and lakes were an artery bringing the necessities of life to these remote areas: flour for making bread, butter to spread on it, sugar to sweeten the essential mug of milky tea and Guinness because, according to the old advertising slogan: “Guinness is good for you.”

    Mr. Martin sees a future when the artery is re-opened, this time bringing a flow of economic benefits to the heart of the countryside, helping to maintain life in rural Ireland.

    Whether it is serving a beer in a bar or a sandwich in a cafe; providing winter mooring or an annual engine service in a garage along the way; waterways can put extra cash in the pockets of local residents.

    “The other good thing is that they’re running through rural areas. They haven’t got the big industries and jobs and any little addition in wages that can be brought in helps keep people in the area and that’s very important,” he argues.

    So waterways that were once the lifeblood of disadvantaged rural communities could sustain them into the future. There are numerous obstacles in the way. Our canals and rivers have become a magnet for all sorts of junk, from shopping trolleys to old cars, which can block navigation channels.

    And it is not only man that causes the problems. Mother nature quickly reclaims abandoned canals which then become choked with weeds; their banks and tow paths overgrown.

    Even where the vegetation has not run riot and smothered a waterway, people living within feet of it can be blind to what is there and the potential it has to improve their lives both in economic and recreational terms. Apart from the money needed to reinstate a canal or open up a river that is one of the biggest obstacles to be overcome; putting value, financially and aesthetically, on a piece of water; showing what a great asset it is to those living around it.

    That is one of the main functions of Waterways Ireland, to raise public awareness of what a great resource we have in our lakes, rivers and canals.

    Waterways Ireland was set up in 1999 as part of the Good Friday Agreement in recognition of the fact that while waterways often form a political border they are no respecter of it and that systems like the Erne flow freely back and forth across the frontier. Waterways Ireland is therefore a cross-Border body set up to manage, monitor, develop and restore our navigable waterways, principally for recreational purposes. Since then it has taken over from the Shannon/Erne Waterway Promotions Company to raise public awareness about all navigable lakes, rivers and canals in Ireland.

    It is not short on ambition, having carried out a feasibility study into a £100 million project.

    “The re-opening of the Ulster Canal from Lough Erne to Clones and Smithborough and on to Lough Neagh. It would complete the link from Coleraine to Limerick,” explains Mr. Martin enthusiastically.

    “We have completed the feasibility study. It’s big money and a big political decision,” he acknowledges.

    Martin Dennany, director of marketing with Waterways Ireland, also relishes the prospect, pointing out that 50 per cent of the canal is in Northern Ireland and 50 per cent in the Republic.

    “It’s the perfect cross-Border project,” he enthuses.

    Mr. Martin has the bottom line.

    “We were talking £90 million to £100 million. It would probably be a major civil engineering project over seven years,” he adds.

    “And we would be happy to take it on,” interjects an eager Mr. Dennany.

    Mr. Martin continues: “It would be THE major project Waterways Ireland would ever be likely to carry out.”

    At the minute the feasibility study is being assessed by the North South Ministerial Council.

    “We await the decision of the two Governments,” says Mr. Martin.

    There’s the distinct feeling that even if the cash were burning a hole in the pockets of the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure here and Community, Rural and Gaeltach Affairs in Dublin, that decision will not be forthcoming while the Northern Ireland Assembly remains in suspension.

    In the meantime there is other work to be done.

    In an effort to generate interest in our lakes, rivers and canals and get more people to make use of them for recreational purposes Waterways Ireland has hosted a series of public consultations in towns from Coleraine to Limerick. It is eager to be part of any project to get tourists to come to Ireland and once here, to get them on to the water.

    “We believe the waterways are a major asset to the tourist market and they have to be marketed,” said Mr. Dennany.

    Earlier this year Waterways Ireland was the major sponsor of the Classic Fishing Festival, an event which attracted 350 anglers and generated an estimated £350,000 for the local economy.

    It also sponsored the Irish J/24 sailing Championships hosted by the Lough Erne Yacht Club.

    This weekend the promotion of the Erne continues with the arrival in Enniskillen of 16 barges from Limerick. The 60 foot long vessels would originally have ferried supplies along the canals. They have since been converted into house boats. In essence they are what Waterways Ireland is all about; old working barges and derelict canals restored and given a new lease of life as a means of recreation and economic regeneration.

    “There’s a sense of history about it and we are happy to be involved because they(the barges) are an important feature of the waterway,” says Mr. Dennany. A map on Mr. Martin’s office wall shows the extent of his responsibility.

    “1,000 kilometres of waterway, north and south, including big lakes like Lough Erne and Lough Derg; rivers; canals,” he adds.

    But length isn’t everything. In a competitive international tourist market why would people come here rather than the Norfolk Broads in England or the canals of southern France?

    “In our set of waterways we have the most compact set of different waterways anywhere in the world. In a fortnight’s holiday you can experience everything, from the lakes to the rivers to the canals. That is a unique, and a major selling point,” says Mr. Martin.

    Along the Shannon/Erne for instance the landscape is constantly changing and on the banks stand historic towns like Enniskillen and ancient ruins like those on Devenish Island.

    “I think the different experiences people can have on their two week’s holidays is almost unrivalled in waterway terms anywhere and our aim is to let people know that,” he explains.

    Mr. Dennany adds: “There’s a vast beauty out there and our job is to make people aware of it.”

    In terms of attracting visitors from outside the area that means attending holiday, boat and angling shows and working with the tourist boards to promote our lakes, rivers and canals. Following the success of its “What’s On” leaflet highlighting events along the various waterways it is producing more of its own promotional literature.

    “The reaction to that surprised us. 10,000 disappeared in a short time and people are looking for more of them. We have had 50 to 100 enquiries already from people that want to be in it next year,” says Mr. Martin.

    Mr. Dennany continues: “We are unique in that we are not selling a holiday, we are selling the whole concept of the waterways, which is what people haven’t traditionally been doing.”

    Attracting visitors to our lakes, rivers and canals is one thing, opening the eyes of local people to what is there is another.

    “The big problem is that people live along the waterways without realising what they have on their doorstep,” says Mr. Dennany.

    Whether they are visitors or locals, if they are to make the most of the lakes, rivers and canals then they will need facilities like jetties, slipways and properly marked navigation channels.

    “We are constantly developing and upgrading,” says Mr. Martin. “Here on the Erne we have gone round assessed all the jetties and refurbished a lot of them.”

    Much of the survey work is done from the water in order to see things the way people in boats see them. Waterways Ireland staff have discovered that people want jetties in two distinct areas: quiet, secure locations where they can moor for the night, and at attractions such as towns and historic monuments.

    “If we can put in a jetty somewhere close to something that is attractive we get people to stop there and spend money,” smiles Mr. Martin.

    Inevitably conflicts of interest arise between the diverse groups using the water. The Lough Erne Bye-laws are one means of regulating and controlling what goes on.

    The “rules of the road on the waterway,” they deal with boat registration, speed limits, “parking” restrictions that limit the time a boat can moor at a jetty, and safety issues. Just like on the road they prohibit drinking and driving. Only one person has ever been prosecuted for being drunk at the helm!

    After over 10 years on the statute books they are being looked at again as part of an overall review designed to harmonise bye-laws across Ireland’s waterways. That will involve considerable public consultation with boat owners and lake users.

    “When it comes right down to it it’s all about good manners and being sensible. Common courtesy makes a big difference,” states Mr. Martin.

    Mr. Dennany adds: “One of the things we would encourage would be safety; for people to wear life jackets and be aware of other users and respect them.” Generally peace prevails.

    Currently there are about 7,000 privately owned boats and 800 hire cruisers on the Erne but if Waterways Ireland succeeds in its aim of getting more and more people out on the water is that not going to lead to congestion on the lakes?

    “The main thing they come for is the tranquillity and the fun they seem to have on this island. It’s very difficult to measure what we have going for us here. We have plenty of room for everyone. We are not anywhere near capacity in terms of boats on the lake,” insists Mr. Martin.

    And there is money to be made from those 7,000 privately owned boats, even when they are not in use.

    “People forget that the owners can’t just tie them up and leave them. They have to find somewhere to moor them and have to pay to tie them up and have them looked after,” says Mr. Martin.

    Mooring fees are expensive - perhaps as much as £1,000 a year. If only 1,000 of the 7,000 privately owned boats on the Erne were to tie up here for the winter the bill could be £1 million.

    And Fermanagh makes money from having the headquarters of Waterways Ireland in Enniskillen.

    “When we have everybody in here we will have close to 70 people working here in Enniskillen,” says Mr. Martin.

    And those are highly desirable jobs. There were 1,600 applications for the first 50 on offer.