Shannon River Cruising

Sailing downstream from Carrick-on-Shannon, we pass through the Jamestown Canal with its lock (and possible visits to Drumsna and Jamestown).

Downstream from Lough Forbes and, beyond the junction with the Royal Canal, to Termonbarry, is an extensive tract of bogland which is worked by the Irish peat development board, Bord na Móna. At Lanesborough the Shannon is spanned by a bridge of nine arches.

Sailing downstream from Carrick-on-Shannon, we pass through the Jamestown Canal with its lock into beautiful Lough Boderg. From here a narrow passage through the reed beds gives access to the lonely Corronadoe loughs, a paradise for bird watchers and anglers.

Sailing downstream from Carrick-on-Shannon, we pass through the Jamestown Canal with its lock into beautiful Lough Boderg. From here a narrow passage through the reed beds gives access to the lonely Corronadoe loughs. At Dromod on Lough Bofin is a beautiful little harbor (which can accommodate only a small number of boats). Father south lies Roosky with its quay.

At Dromod on Lough Bofin is a beautiful little harbor, to the south of which lies Roosky with its quay. Beyond this extends a narrower tree-lined stretch of the Shannon, leading into Lough Forbes and, beyond the junction with the Royal Canal, to Termonbarry with its large lock. From Termonbarry or from Cloondara on the other side of the river, Strokestown and Longford can be visited.

Boats starting from Carrick-on-Shannon generally explore first the upper course of the Shannon, the River Boyle and its loughs, and above all beautiful Lough Key (near the town of Boyle), with its wooded islands and its Forest Park in the grounds of a former mansion (forest trails, bog garden, restaurant, shop).

From Shannon Harbor boats once sailed to Dublin on the Grand Canal. The ruins of buildings dating from that period still convey some feeling of Regency elegance.

At Shannonbridge an old bridge of 16 arches spans the Shannon. Here can be seen remains of fortifications of the Napoleonic period.