Five years ago a series of incidents blackened the name of Edenderry, Co Offaly, when vandalism, theft and the alleged stoning of a boat by youths from a bridge in the area sent a message to the boating fraternity to avoid the town.
Last weekend it won back its good name, in waterway terms, when it hosted the Easter gathering of the Co Kildare Inland Waterways Branch.
For the first time in nearly five years 25 boats and barges were tied up in the harbour. There was quiet satisfaction that the event had been staged without incident, and local traders, especially in pubs and supermarkets, are looking forward to more visitors.
Frank Carroll, a local man who lives beside the canal, said that although the bad incidents in the past were small, it did not do the town any good.
"When Kildare Branch of Inland Waterways decided to hold their rally here at Easter the local Lions' Club, of which I am a member, decided to hire security for the boats so people could relax," he said.
"The security men mingled with the boat-owners and those taking part to reassure them that their property would not be interfered with and they could go into the local bars and enjoy themselves without interference."
It was looking very good for the canal business from now on, he added.
Mr Carroll said Edenderry folk were very proud of the canal, built about 205 years ago to facilitate travel and trade with the rest of the country, especially Dublin.
"We are one mile off the main canal itself so people have to make a decision to come in here. Very few towns have a canal basin in their centre, but we can boast that we have that and a facility to tie up 22 boats," he said.
"There have been major improvements to the canal since it was taken over by the OPW, and we hope to get our share of increased use of the facility," he added.
Edenderry was looking forward to hosting more rallies, and he was certain that either the Lions' Club or business interests would provide private security for boat owners coming into the harbour. The recent upturn in the economy meant that more people now owned boats or were hiring them, and the canal was a major amenity for them.
The future role of the canal in tourism and general recreation is currently under review by a number of groups, including the Regional Tourism Boards, Leader groups and the Waterways service of Duchas, the Heritage Service.