| Inland cruising in Ireland is a very popular family | | | | such are the attractions. |
| and/or friends together holiday. There are | | | | Heading further down south the small town of |
| numerous rivers lakes and canals from which to | | | | Banagher in County Offaly is ideally placed to |
| explore the beauty of Ireland's waterways and | | | | cruise the Shannon south from Athlone, and is a |
| countryside. It is a much safer and cheaper option | | | | great staring point for cruising the largest lake on |
| than offshore sailing for the novice sailor and | | | | the River Shannon, Lough Derg. This lakes |
| presents great opportunities to meet people along | | | | presents a stunning vista of mountains sweeping |
| the route. The most popular by far is the | | | | down to the water and picturesque villages such |
| Shannon River cruise which can be done in | | | | as Garrykennedy, Mountshannon and Terryglass |
| different segments or all in one as part of a great | | | | dotted along its shores. On the west side of the |
| trip down the central spine of Ireland. Many | | | | lake one can take the tiny winding Scarriff River |
| however opt to the northern half in one holiday | | | | to Scarriff village. The journey up the tree-lined |
| break and do the other on a follow-up a year | | | | river with branches hanging over the water is an |
| later on the southern half of the Shannon. | | | | experience in itself but can be hazardous and |
| The north Shannon is considered to be the more | | | | unnerving for first time sailors. Lough Derg is a |
| lively section of the river. There are plenty of | | | | wide and huge open expanse of water and the |
| small villages and attractive towns on its route | | | | currents and the winds can be unpredictable and |
| with Carrick on Shannon being the centre point. | | | | quickly changing. Care is needed in this section of |
| Even the small villages have good moorings and | | | | the journey and if in any doubt or fear, stay |
| facilities. In section you will encounter the beautiful | | | | close to the shorelines. |
| Lough Key, one of the most scenic areas of the | | | | The most southerly point on the Shannon is the |
| Shannon reached via a meandering river and one | | | | twin towns of Killaloe and Ballina. This is where the |
| (manned) lock. Rockingham Forest Park surrounds | | | | navigation of the river stops as the Shannon |
| it and by climbing the tower you get spectacular | | | | proceeds onwards on its journey to Limerick City |
| views of the lake. Boyle is the nearest town with | | | | and out to the ocean through the Shannon |
| lots of pubs and restaurants for an evening of | | | | Estuary. Killaloe and Ballina are small but |
| entertainment. Another option is to go to Lough | | | | prosperous and chic towns with a great range of |
| Allen along a narrow canal and through | | | | pubs and some top-class dining experiences. |
| Drumshanbo village. The most attractive feature | | | | Depending on who you hire your cruiser from |
| of the Northern route is the fact that you can | | | | there will be different final berthing points. Most |
| access Lough Erne through Leitrim via the | | | | operators will allow you drop at a different point |
| Shannon-Erne Waterway, a link which was opened | | | | than where you started if you so wish, but a |
| in 1996. | | | | better idea is to return to your starting point and |
| If you travel south from Carrick on Shannon, you | | | | explore different attractions that you would have |
| will go through the Jamestown Canal, built to | | | | missed on the outward journey. One of these |
| bypass Jamestown and Drumsna. Further south is | | | | great attractions is the site of Clonmacnoise |
| the pretty little village of Dromod which is worth a | | | | Monastery founded by St. Ciaran in the mid-sixth |
| stop over as is the next village, Rooskey which | | | | century on the eastern bank of the River |
| has some nice amenities to offer. At the entrance | | | | Shannon. The site includes the ruins of a cathedral, |
| to Lough Ree, Lanesborough in County Longford | | | | seven churches, two round towers, three high |
| is the next main port of call. Lough Ree is the | | | | crosses and the largest collection of Early Christian |
| second largest lake on the Shannon River and this | | | | gravestones in Europe and is the most popular |
| allows you a great choice of berthing places. You | | | | stopping point on the southern route of the |
| can head into Portrunny with a new, larger | | | | Shannon. |
| harbour, or head south towards Glassan with its | | | | For those who are cruising river and lakes for the |
| fabulous lakeside golf course that is a popular | | | | first time, the hire company will give you |
| overnight stop. Beside it is the renowned | | | | adequate tuition and safety instructions. Navigating |
| award-winning Wineport Restaurant for a gourmet | | | | locks is the trickiest part of the journey but as |
| dinner to round of the day in style. On the | | | | most of these are manned, this should not |
| opposite side of the lake is Hodson Bay on which | | | | present a problem. Those that are not have |
| there is a modern hotel and facilities and home to | | | | automatic feed-ins which makes the process |
| Athlone Golf Course. You then arrive in the most | | | | easier than anticipated. |
| central town in Ireland Athlone, the largest town | | | | For a holiday with a difference, inland cruising |
| on the River Shannon with shops, restaurants, | | | | takes some beating and the most likely desire to |
| hotels, pubs, cinema, sports facilities and lots | | | | flow from the experience is one of wanting to |
| more. This place is worth a day stopping over in | | | | return again. |