Picket Fence

Ireland’s Grand Canal opened for business in 1756. From then until 1960, paying passengers and goods of all sorts were shuttled from Kildare to Dublin and back. Like other canals in the UK and in Europe, the Grand Canal is maintained as a recreational spot rather than a working conduit. Narrow boats (imagine long, skinny RVs with hulls instead of wheels) ply its length or rest peacefully along the banks. But there are those who use the canal in more creative ways. Eoghan (an Irish version of Owen) Redmond uses a paddleboard to explore the waterway. Eoghan adopted Ted, a rescued border collie, two years ago. Since then, this unusual pair have been a regular sight along the canal. Eoghan stands, propelling the board, while Ted sits up front with his paws over the edge. "People didn't take photographs of me on my own on the board,” says Eoghan. “But they do when they see Ted!"