An Irish Blog

[bgw]

I have yet to venture out onto the Shannon Estuary and onto the Atlantic (one day I hope to take my boat to the Arran Islands) so I will start my story in Limerick.
 
Here is a video showing the Limerick Navigation - from Ardnacrusha Power station into Limerick city centre. This trip can only be safely undertaken with a maximum of two out of the four turbines running due to the restricted bridge clearances.
 

 
The Ardnacrusha Power station has a two chamber lock (upper 60ft, lower 40ft) that allows navigation through the system.
Maybe not for the faint hearted or claustrophobic - but it's actually quite safe and easy.

 

my next posts will be about my home territory of Lough Derg...

 

 

Brian.

[donnygeoff]

"so I will start my story in Limerick"

There once was a man called Brian
to sail the Atlantic he was a tryin'
He set off from Lough Derg
And with a bit of a splurge
He ended up on the Isle of Arran....

 

[BroadScot]

Well well don't ya know it,

Ooor Donnygeoff's a bit of a Poet!

 

 

Iain

 

p.s. Brian, I see the Isle Arran every day.

 

 

 

 

 

[GeoffandWendy]

Thank you for sharing your videos Brian. Those locks are very impressive and quite a depth too. The Shannon looks to be a very pleasant waterway to navigate, and a few strong currents along the way. Limerick looks a nice place as well. 

[bgw]

I am guessing it's a different set of islands Iain

[bgw]

Hi Geoff & Wendy,

 

There are strong currents on the river sections in times after heavy and prolonged rainfall (contrary to popular belief it doesn't always rain here) but the Loughs are so vast that a slight breeze will have more impact if you are drifting than the flow.

 

In the Video of the trip to limerick we started with a single turbine running but they had switched on a second by the time we got into limerick so the flow was picking up - and you can see why navigating the narrow or angled bridges become difficult - much as you can experience on a dropping tide in Norfolk.

 

Brian

[Rincewind]

Great footage of the lock transit, Brian. Thank you for sharing.

 

Does look a bit daunting though....scary even.

[BroadScot]

I am guessing it's a different set of islands Iain

That pic Brian is the Scottish Isle of Arran, on the south west coast off the Firth of Clyde. I think your Arran for your isles is Arranmore? Co Galway?

 

 

Iain.

[bgw]

Close Iain, but no banana
 
The Arran Islands (Inis Mor, Inis Meain and Inis Oirr) are off the coast of Galway - Arranmore Island is in Donegal.

http://www.visitaranislands.com/

[BroadScot]

Close Iain, but no banana

 

The Arran Islands (Inis Mor, Inis Meain and Inis Oirr) are off the coast of Galway - Arranmore Island is in Donegal.

http://www.visitaranislands.com/

Oh goodie Brian,

 

Bananas give me chronic indigestion anyway lol Thank you for the link to the area.

 

 

Iain.

 

p.s. See you are up to ten posts already

[LizG]

In 1965 we had a holiday on the Shannon, it was ............interesting. Lough Derg was an experience I never wish to repeat. The best bits were above Carrick on Shannon and an area where there were no rocks????

 

I have some really poor black and white photos....so I can't wait to see more blogs and footage from bgw

[bgw]

Hi w-album - I would love to see the images you have from 1965 - good or bad they would be very interesting - and I would endeavour to see if I can show you updated images of the same areas.

[bgw]

OK - now for part 2 - Lough Derg

 

Lough Derg is the second biggest lake in Ireland with maximum dimensions of 38.6km in length by 12.9km wide (24 by 8 miles). The maximum depth is around 39m (130 feet).

 

 

It is big enough that you have to keep an eye on weather conditions and wind direction - particularly in small boats or those less able to deal with large waves.

A friend captured this of me in a force 8 - in an area that was somewhat sheltered!

I normally draw the line at a force 6 unless I am out and need to get home.

 

Fortunately we get some good days too

 

 

My home berth is in Killaloe at the southern end of the lake - just a few minutes from home.

 

There are no speed limits except for areas around harbours, bridges and very narrow stretches of rivers so it gives you the chance to blow out the cobwebs if there are no other boats around. - You do need to keep a keen eye open for fishermen in open boats.

The castle in the background is on an island so only accessible by boat, but fully restored and open to the public by appointment.

 

Most harbours are well appointed with floating pontoons, water and power.

 

Dromaan is one of the quieter harbours - with only water available and no pubs in close proximity so you need to be self sufficient - However it is a useful bolt hole in bad weather as it is always protected - unlike some harbours.

Looking out of the harbour you can see the man made breakwater that makes the harbour so safe - originally it was like a funnel that made it very dangerous in a south easterly wind.

 

There are a few river sections and plenty of places to drop your anchor if you prefer an isolated time - but mostly off the marked navigation so you need to be sure where you are going.

This is the entrance to one of the larger rivers (Scarriff River) that is on the marked navigation.

 

Navigation is not for the faint hearted - there are many dangers on Lough Derg and few navigation markers - You need to study the maps and keep note of where you are until you are familiar with the lake.

 

One notorious area is "Middle Ground" - complicated by the fact that the lake goes upstream in both East and West directions from the centre (see red arrows).

 

Note that at the bottom only the narrow channel to the left of Scilly Island is marked but you can navigate perfectly safely with more space to the right of the island where the blue arrow is but there are no navigation markers that side.

The green arrow indicates an issue for people unfamiliar with the lake - when travelling from the West you are initially travelling downstream, but in the middle you switch to going upstream and the navigation marks swap sides!

 

Not sure I attached the pictures properly so apologies if they can not be seen at full size.

 

regards,

 

Brian.

 

 

 

 

[BroadScot]

Hi Brian,

 

Thank you very much for all the pics and info. I am sure MM and Nyx would love the force 8 waves eh MM?  Just a tad more than a ripple on Salhouse Broad lol

 

 

Iain.

[riyadhcrew]

Hi Brian,

 

Love the pictures and the waves. Maybe I could open a shop there selling wiper blades.

[MauriceMynah]

Nah, just chuck the mudweight over and ride it out. Did much the same in Ranworth once.

[LizG]

I will dig out the old photos, all black and white using a Box Brownie, might be awhile though...... we hired from Carrick on Shannon.

[deebee29]

Thanks for this Brian. Very intersting.

The photos are great....... Keep them coming

Please

David

[bgw]

I thought I would just revisit the stretch below Lough Derg to Limerick before continuing up the Shannon as I missed an interesting fact.
From the following chart sample you can see that you do not actually navigate down the Shannon to get to Limerick – You use the waterway that was created for the power station – Namely the Headrace and Tailrace. The headrace must be one of the most boring sections of the system over here – man made, concrete lined with no visibility over much of the landscape. The Tailrace is, however, a much nicer stretch.
 
 
We now enter the River Shannon at Portumna and make our way to Athlone.



The lower Shannon is rather bland in places as it is a remarkably flat area.




There is only one lock about a third of the way up with a second at Athlone.
It does go through a few interesting towns along the way though...
Victoria Lock on a busy day...




Banagher is a popular hire boat location and although the town is a little quiet these days there are a good range of shops for provisions.
A little further north you will come across the entrance to the Grand Canal – which you can navigate to Dublin via if your vessel is suitable for the route. With shallow areas and low bridges it is not suited to my boat but I can get through the first couple of locks to Shannon Harbour.
Just before Shannon Bridge there is the entrance to the River Suck that will take you to Ballinasloe.
This river is quite a pretty diversion to a good sized town. It goes under a railway bridge that was raised by a few feet to make the river navigable to a bigger range of boats.
Back to the Shannon and next is Shannon Bridge. A small quiet town but a nice stop over that makes a nice alternative to Banagher if you want to stop over at different locations going north and south along the river.
Another popular place to stop is Clonmacnoise.





Here you need to be self sufficient as there are no facilities but there is “An Early Christian site founded by St. Ciarán in the mid-6th century on the eastern bank of the River Shannon. The site includes the ruins of a cathedral, seven churches (10th -13th century), two round towers, three high crosses and the largest collection of Early Christian grave slabs in Western Europe. The original high crosses and a selection of grave slabs are on display in the visitor centre.” – see (http://www.heritageireland.ie/en/midlandseastcoast/clonmacnoise/)

A little further north and we are in Athlone.

This is the one and only place I pay for an overnight mooring because it has a gated marina with good access to the shops and attractions. There are also free bank side moorings in places but I prefer the security and slightly more quiet location of the council run marina in a big town/city.

[BroadScot]

Thanks again Brian for your latest input, very interesting indeed.

 

 

Iain.

[JawsOrca]

Hi Brian,

 

I've only just stumbled across these later posts, very interesting indeed, the area looks lovely! and I love the pic of your boat ploughing through the white horses! Although I think we may need to give you a warning for potentially removing some potential holidaymakers to ireland! The irish waterways was actually on my list to visit a few years back but it never happened (I think it was just too expensive although that was before easyjet etc) after reading this maybe it will be one day!  Please keep this blog coming, I'm looking forward to lots more pictures!