Liffey Descent cancelled due to low water levels

Next month's Liffey Descent canoe and kayak race has been cancelled due to low water levels in the reservoir that supplies the River Liffey.

The annual event has been held since 1960. It had been due to take place again on Saturday 10 September, starting at the K Club and finishing in the Garda Boat Club at Islandbridge.

However it will not take place this year after a particularly hot summer saw water levels drop significantly - and with a relatively dry long-term weather forecast, organisers have been forced to call it off.

"With the best interests of the health, safety and enjoyment of participants we have made the difficult decision to cancel this year's event," Canoeing Ireland said in a statement.

"We are exploring the option of moving the race to April to alleviate the annual issue with water levels, which have become more problematic in recent years."

This summer was marked with long periods of dry, hot weather, following a winter of low rainfall levels.

The Head of Met Éireann's Climate Services Division has said that "while 2022 has brought Ireland extreme heat events, looking over a longer period reveals a trend in Ireland's temperatures".

"Twenty of the 21 years this century have all seen temperatures above what was considered normal in the 1970s, and climate models project this trend to continue," Keith Lambkin said.