Advice on Irish Waterways needed

PatrickH said:
Thanks for all the comments guys! We have done part of Lough Derg a few years back, Terryglass, Dromineer, Garrykennedy and Portumna. Starting at Banagher this time allows us more time for the Lough though.
I'm hoping we can get the boat early enough to get to Terryglass for first night though we won't know if it's possible until the week before. No kids on this holiday :) We stopped at Terryglass last time and the wonderful landlady came down to the boat to pick us up! Also loved Larkins @ Garrykennedy and the harbour there. Not sure about anchoring, will see if company ok with it, also Ardnacrusha.

On the return we aim to be back at Banagher on the Friday night so nice relaxed departure as we have the ferry back from Dublin early afternoon.
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If you'd prefer not to spend your last night at the hire base, you could moor at the remote Esker Riada wooden jetty just south of Victoria Lock, lock through at 09:00am on Sat arriving back at banagher at 10:00, or alternatively go through the lock about 20:00 fri evening and moor up for the night at the waiting jetty which would allow you to leave say 0800am arriving back at the hire base at 0900am sat morning.
 
pks1702 said:
You could have tidied up ;)
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The forward cabin was very clean - an incident with a shower left on and the water pump turned on to make a drink meant the full water tank was nearly emptied into the forward space. Only spotted when the slippers were seen floating around! :o:D
 
A big thank you from me (the OP) for the additional contributions. I am still in the early stages of planning but I have booked the time off for the last two weeks in August. A week on the boat and a week in Mayo visiting family. So, Patrick, be sure and post a report on your trip in June and I hope you have a great time.
 
Will do PEJ :)

We have modified our plans slightly now - and intend to head up to Shannonbridge (and Killeens!) if we have to pick up the boat later on Saturday afternoon. Then a very leisurely return down to Terryglass for Sunday afternoon, leaving us a full 5 days on Lough Derg.
 
Shannon System Ireland

:DGood rule of Thumb for Lough Derg extending to 25 miles by 6 miles roughly, a small sea with conditions which can match overfalls off the Calf of Mann!
If the leaves are moving its safe to go on the lake,if the boughs are moving on the trees, most of the hire craft will struggle to remain comfortable,and off Parker Point north of Killaloe seas can be confused and most dangerous in high winds.Similar advice for Lough Ree, except that on this lake the visibility reduces seemingly more quickly due to low lying land either side.Do not be afraid to turn back, lots do it, and rejoice over pints in the local instead of being fished out of a field or worse by rescuers!
Concur about Scariff, nuff said.
 
Hello All,

Hope nobody minds me tacking on to this thread as the question is sort of relevant.

Been accross to Ireland lots on Shannon and Erne systems and hired boats from various companies. We now have our own boat so we plan to cross to the Emerald Isle for a few weeks this summer. My question is can we get into the shannon system via the Barrow which appears to be navigable, this will save cruising around the south coast to enter the Shannon from the west. She has a beam of 4.25m, draft of 1.2m and air draft of 3.25m (boat not the wife).

Thanks in advance
Roy
 
A group from my marina traveled to Waterford from the Shannon in a sliding roof Norfolk Broads type cruiser (not sure the make). They seemed to get on fine. Obviously no problems with air draft. They did have a few gentle groundings on the barrow but nothing major with a protected single screw. Are you certain about the air draft? It might well be too high for travelling the grand canal. What type of boat do you have actually?
 
Leaforge said:
Hello All,

Hope nobody minds me tacking on to this thread as the question is sort of relevant.

Been accross to Ireland lots on Shannon and Erne systems and hired boats from various companies. We now have our own boat so we plan to cross to the Emerald Isle for a few weeks this summer. My question is can we get into the shannon system via the Barrow which appears to be navigable, this will save cruising around the south coast to enter the Shannon from the west. She has a beam of 4.25m, draft of 1.2m and air draft of 3.25m (boat not the wife).

Thanks in advance
Roy
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Hi Roy,

Max beam to fit into locks is 4 mtr or less( my barge is a tight fit at 12'6) max draft in summer is less than 3' (more like2'6) on the grand canal, and on the Bartow above Graignamanor can be less than that.....10' max under the bridges......

Answer: no way.

Suggest you get lifted out in Dublin and transported to lough Ree (70 miles), and then head north on the river Shannon.
The river get prettier and prettier as you go upstream from lough Ree, the lough Ernes are truly exceptional in the North.

IMO miss out the south, lough Derg etc., its not nearly as pretty.
 
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Leaforge said:
Hello All,

Hope nobody minds me tacking on to this thread as the question is sort of relevant.

Been accross to Ireland lots on Shannon and Erne systems and hired boats from various companies. We now have our own boat so we plan to cross to the Emerald Isle for a few weeks this summer. My question is can we get into the shannon system via the Barrow which appears to be navigable, this will save cruising around the south coast to enter the Shannon from the west. She has a beam of 4.25m, draft of 1.2m and air draft of 3.25m (boat not the wife).

Thanks in advance
Roy
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Assume she is single screw if attempting the grand canal or barrow. BUT unfortunately 1.2m will be difficult on parts of the Barrow, and Grand canal, and 3.25m airdraft will NOT get under the bridges.

No problem on the Shannon but you have two choices to get on to the amazing system a) cruise around SW coast which I've done many times, into the Shannon estuary and up through limerick city to the non tidal Shannon loughs, or b) alternatively cruise to dun Laoghaire and truck her to one of the inland Shannon loughs. Cost of road transport probably not too different to fuel costs.

Personally I always enjoy the adventure of a long trip, but you have to plan around the weather a bit more on the SW and W coast of Ireland. But it can be very pleasant during settled summer weather spells.

Ps. Ideal boat for Barrow and grand canal <3ft draft, single screw, 2.6m airdraft, weed hatch for canal. Shannon will suit sea spec TSDYs large and small.
 
Hi ocean frogie,
+1
..............And I forgot about the weeds and plastic bags in the canal!!

I've only done the trip from lowtown to Shannon harbour once on the Grand canal.......after a couple of days it got very monotous and boring, most of the way was through low lying bogland. The Barrow in contrast was very pretty with lots of interesting places to visit.

IMO the Shannon is gorgeous , well worth the effort. Does it equal the Thames? Just as pretty, less crowded.

Oh by the way Leaforge, there's fantastic trout fishing on Lough Ree......3-4 lbs very common.
 
Thanks for the input guys,

Fished on the Barrow at Athy many years ago as I remember it was shallow in parts but a lovely river. Looks like it will be a trip around the south coast and up the Shannon. I have cruised on the Shannon before from Banagher to Lough Ree and the inner lakes so looking forward to a re-visit. It was a short Ireland cruise trip that persuaded my better half to jump in and by a boat so fitting it will be our first major excursion!!;)
 
;)Hi Leaforge,
found a little spiral bounde guide on my bookshelf 'guide to the barrow.Must have it since 1977 when it was printed.
Max dimensions of vessels
from Lowtown to Athy
L 18.5
B 3.9
D1.20
In the river below Athy,
vertical dimensions are governed by the level of the river which varies considerably.
In summer:Draft 0.76 metres
Air Draft 2.58 metres.

Carlow bridge gives this clearance over a width of2.43 metres.

Up to date information must be obtained and from www.iwai.ie.

Hope this helps.
 
Patrick,

Thanks for sharing.

I have booked a Haines 400 from Silverline. 14th to 21st August.

So give me a wave any of you that are out there then!
 
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