Cruise on the shannon

drealmrt

A few friends and myself are thinking of renting a boat and going on a cruise on the Shannon. We only want to do a 3 day trip. Has anyone any suggestions??.. e.g. companies that do it, where to start, where to stop off, best time to go.

mikemac

Fantastic idea OP!

I would start in Carrick-on-Shannon up in Leitrim and work your work south.

Now I don't know any companies in Leitrim but Emerald Star are a big player in this market.
Do you know Portumna, Co. Galway? Emerald Star has a massive operation there, row upon row of boats. Give them a buzz
http://www.emeraldstar.ie/
Good places to stop off are Terryglass and Garrykennedy in Co. Tipp and
Ogonnolloe and Killaloe in Co. Clare. I don't realy know any areas north of this

Be warned drealmrt. GAA season is starting so don't wear a Clare jersey in Tipp unless you want the locals to lynch you! :eek:
Same goes for wearing a Tipp in Co. Clare

becah

I'd second Carrick-on-Shannon as a great starting point, there are loads of great pubs, restaurants etc in the town itself, as well as lots of nice places along the way, such as Leitrim Village, Knockvicker etc.
Emerald Star's Marina is based in the town, as is Carrick Craft, another rental company.
Emerald Star's details are: Tel: 071 962 7633, Email: info@emeraldstar.ie. Carrick Craft's booking line is 01 278 1666, email ales@carrickcraft.com.

BigglesMcGee

Great holiday.
Weather is the only problem. The way around this is to check the weather and book the boat the week before you go. Ignore anyone that tells you you wont be able to get one at short notice.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055216302

muckety

Tara cruisers (think they are in knockvicar) are very good, we were advised that their boats are steel hulled so would be more stable in the water (didn't bob about as much). There are loads of places to go /see in 3 days from Knockvicar - eg Lough Key (you can moor at the lovely Lough Key forrest park), Carrick-on-Shannon, etc. Its brilliant fun!

nicardgr

best holiday i've ever done, ended up going back the year after. Depending where you start or which way you go you find the most random spots, one night we hit jamestown, and by hit it i mean crashed into the bride the boat wouldnt fit under (dad's fault not mine ) but the was a lovely lebonese restaurant there, mmmmm yum!

lauratkd

Loving this idea OP, I think I'm going to have to steal it.

A friend of mine mentioned that she had spent a week cruising last summer and had a ball. I didn't realise you could do 3 days (which is all I could do) so please let me know how you get on!

ellebelle

Hi

I was pratically brought up on a boat on the Shannon at weekends growing up. My parents still have it and are gone everyweek from about May till October. Its not at all fancy (boats have gotten very fancy on the Shannon over the past few years) but i can heartily recommend it.

Rent from Carrick Crusiers or Emerald Star who both have a base in Carrick On Shannon, and head from there. Going South Dromod is VERY VERY popular so its hard to get a quayside mooring unless your there early and expect someone to moor up beside you. Roosky is grand, down to Lanesborough etc....

Up north of Carrick, Letrim is a good spot and up into Acres lake (where when i was older myself and my friends would stay without my parents - although my dad didn't trust us to take it out) and Lough key, if you have your beers and yummy food on board. People as a rule are very very friendly on the Shannon, you'll be waving at all the boats passing, and talking to people who have been cruising the Shannon for decades.

You'll have a blast and you'll all want to go back for more, I cannot recommend it enough. Just make sure you take in the rules etc.... when your getting your low down from the rental company, stay between the markers, and be nice to everyone you meet (coz you might meet my 'mammy & daddy'!!):rolleyes:

Have a ball;)

The Artist

I gather its quite expensive for those shannon cruises as i like the idea,maybe in the summer,august time.Any good deals for a family of 5?

BigglesMcGee

davey180 wrote: »

I gather its quite expensive for those shannon cruises as i like the idea,maybe in the summer,august time.Any good deals for a family of 5?

Its actually cheaper if you go over to the UK or Europe and do it too, believe it or not.

Daxie

Is it possible that I can be allowed back on? I didnt read the rules properly.

Heisenberg.

This post has been deleted.

BigglesMcGee

The Scientist wrote: »

Whats the deal with this.. Do you need a marine licence or does someone accompany you?

Looks like a great idea if you can just rent a boat and take off with the lads...
It would be a bit of a mood killer if some crusty old git was with you to drive/sail () it..

an hours trainging and the boat is all yours - nobody else on board at all.
The only think to put a dampener can be the weather, thats why leave it til the week before to book, when you have an idea of what the weather will be like. Nothing worse than being on a boat in the rain or cold wind.