Cruise Ireland’s magical inland waterways
One-way cruises are our speciality. From Carrick-on-Shannon to Banagher you can see most of the Shannon in one week. Starting at Carrick or Banagher, we advise that each of these is considered a week's holiday - you can travel further if you wish, but that means being in a hurry which is not really the point of a relaxing holiday in Ireland. We can arrange transfers from Dublin Airport to our marinas on any day of the week apart from Sunday.
Cruise Ireland, combining Carrickcraft, Waveline Cruisers and now Linssen Boating Holidays operate a fleet of 120 boats on the Shannon and Erne in Ireland and have over 40 years of experience in boat charter. You can complete an online tutorial before you arrive and our helpful staff will give you your instruction so that you are happy with the boat handling and the simple navigation.
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ROUTE DETAILS
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Southern tour Carrick-on-Shannon – Dromod – Rooskey – Killinure – Athlone – Lanesborough – Carrick-on-Shannon
Circular route | 1 week
22 hours | 176 km | 6 locks
Leaving Carrick, head south towards Jamestown and Albert Lock, your first lock. Don’t worry, the lock-keeper will take your lines and make sure you are happy with how it works. Then head on towards Dromod for your first night. Stay in the lovely little harbour and head into the village for an excellent steak dinner. Next morning, if time permits, take a detour up to Kilglass and Grange, quiet even by our standards, and have lunch on board at a peaceful mooring. Head back to the Shannon and towards Rooskey with another lock (and another lock-keeper!). You may have to stay here if you’re running late, or continue towards Clondra and Richmond Harbour for the night.
Next day you will have to cross one of our big lakes – Lough Ree. The navigation channel is marked with large markers and if the weather is good, you can go up into some of the bays. Stay the night at Hodson Bay where there is a large hotel offering full services. Stay close by in the morning and cruise across to the Inner Lakes and the Glasson Hotel which also has an 18-hole Golf Course for those who play. Stay the night and for a Special Occasion, have dinner in the Wineport. Next day you will arrive in Athlone with plenty of bars and restaurants, castle, museum and plenty of things to do.
You will have to turn round and head back to Carrick, but you will have seen the northern part of the Shannon.
Northern tour Carrick-on-Shannon – Keshcarrigan – Ballinamore – Leitrim – Lough Key Forest Park – Boyle – Carrick-on-Shannon
Circular tour | 1 week
26 hours | 208 km | 22 locks
Leave Carrick and head north towards Leitrim. You could stop here for lunch and check you have a Lock Card for the Shannon-Erne Waterway. Lock 16 is in Leitrim and all the locks on the Shannon-Erne Waterway are self-operated – but they are all electric/hydraulic and very easy and fun to operate. Stop off at Keshcarrigan for the night, eat on board. Next morning, more locks and on to Ballinamore with plenty to see and do. You won’t have time to get to the Erne, so turn back and stay the night in Leitrim. It’s a shorter day today, so before you get back to Carrick, turn right up the Boyle River and into Lough Key. For a day with a difference, moor at the Forest Park and spend the day exploring the trails and walking the Tree Canopy Trail. Stay the night here and next day go across the lake to Boyle, with its historic buildings and plentiful bars. It’s time to head home, so take a leisurely day and go down river to Carrick for your last night.
The Lough Derg Tour Banagher – Terryglass – Garrykennedy – Killaloe – Mountshannon – Shannonbridge – Banagher
Circular tour | 1 week
22hours | 176 km | 2 locks
Leaving Banagher and heading south, you pass through Meelick Lock with the usual helpful lock-keeper and, having waited for the swing-bridge at Portumna to open, head to Terryglass for the night. With its Award-winning pubs, Terryglass is always popular so make sure you arrive nice and early in the harbour. Take a leisurely cruise down the eastern shore to Garrykennedy and if space permits, tie up in the old harbour. Eat in Larkin’s Pub for good traditional Irish fare. Continue down the eastern shore to the southernmost part of the navigation at Killaloe. Actually two towns, one each side of the river (the other is Ballina), there is plenty to see and do on both sides. Taking the western shore back up the lake, spend the night in Mountshannon with it’s picturesque houses and quiet harbour. Next morning, start early as you will cruise on up past Banagher to Shannonbridge and, if you’re early, to Clonmacnoise, once of the finest early Christian settlements. You can’t stay the night in Clonmacnoise, so go back to Shannonbridge for a pub meal and overnight stay. Next day, take a gentle cruise back to Banagher.
Your Linssen Boating Holidays partner
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Unit 4
3 – 9 Fairgreen Road
Markethill
Co. Armagh
BT60 1PWT: +44 28 3834 4993
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Bases: Carrick-on-Shannon and Banagher
Airport: Dublin 2.5 hours to both
