boating In Europe Ireland

Since 1999 Waterways Ireland has assumed responsibility for the entire Irish waterways network (North and South).

The two main waterways are the River Shannon and the River Erne, with links via the Ulster Canal, Lough Neagh and the Lagan Navigation to Belfast in the North, and via the Royal and Grand Canals to Dublin in the South.

The Shannon provides nearly 260km of navigable waterway with only seven locks from Killaloe to Lough Allen with a further 113km from Lough Allen via Limerick to the sea at Loop Head. There are now good moorings along most of its length.

A one-week return trip of 240kms with four locks from Carrick-on-Shannon to Shannonbridge can take in Jamestown, Lanesborough and the very attractive Lough Ree as well as Athlone.

The 60km long Shannon-Erne Waterway joining these two large rivers has 16 automated locks, and provides for an interesting 75km one-way week-long cruise, with 16 locks,  from Belturbet to join the Shannon at Leitrim before going on via Lough Allen and Drumshanbo to Carrick-on-Shannon.

The 65 km long Erne Navigation from Belterbet to Belleek has only one lock, while the 250km Grand Canal and Barrow Navigation are now purely pleasure boating waterways, making the 132km connection from Dublin to the Shannon, with 44 locks, an attractive proposition.
The Royal Canal, with 47 locks in 145km also connects Dublin the Shannon, but part of this is still being restored.

Contacts:

Waterways Ireland  www.waterways-ireland.org

The Inland Waterways Association of Ireland www.iwai.ie

Irish Sailing association www.sailing.ie