Cruising from Carrick-on-Shannon

Together with its inner lakes and tributaries, this remarkable river probides 258km of cruising waterway. Only six locks check its elegant passage to the Atlantic and no heavy industry mars its clean waters and virgin banks.

After its humble begin-
nings in a Co. Cavan pool called The Shannon Pot, the river forms three great lakes on its long journey south where it hoins the ocean through a long estuary west of Limerick City. Glorious wildfowl and wildlife sanctuaries occupy its callows, bays and inner lakes and the flora is remarkably varied and colourful .The refreshing unpolluted air is invigorating. The water, mostly brown in colour from the earth and peat, is pure and clean.

Carrick-on-Shannon is the principal cruiser base on the great river. Of the different cruiser-hire companies operating out of Carrick, Shannon-Erne Waterway Holidays, Tara Cruisers, Emerald Star Line and Shannon-Erne Line have pages on the web. The extension of the Shannon navigation in the 1840's contributed greatly to the growth and prosperity of the town. Today coarse and trout anglers are attracted by the wild fish and contribute to making Carrick a lively centre where cruising enthusiasts, anglers and touring holiday-makers meet., mingle and enjoy the entertainment and food.

The choices of cruising waters around Carrick are extremely varied and its particular appeal lies in the large number of moorings and villages, all within short cruising distances of each other. Places to visit include the Forest Park in Lough Key (a must-see for any visitor to the area), and in nearby Boyle the 12th century Cistercian Abbey and the recently restored 17th century King Town House.

Downstream lies the water wonderland of winding rivers and lakes, as the Shannon grows in size on its slow path southwards. You will discover the mysterious reed beds and channels in Carnadoe, Kilglass, and Grange. Lough Ree too, is within cruising distance, and offers a variety of channels such as westward to Lecarrow and Hodson Bay or eastward into the Inny River and the sheltered lakes of Coosan and Killenure.