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River Shannon Cruise 2020 with Emerald Star
After a two and a bit year break from the river due to other commitments in 2019(!) we set off on another adventure of the River Shannon exploring new locations and some old ones as well onboard one of Emerald Star's Vision Class boats.
In a break from tradition and with thanks to Covid19, this years cruise is from Carrick-on-Shannon instead of the more traditional starting point of Portumna that we have used in previous years.
Our 2020 cruise on the Shannon was originally planned for May from Portumna but this was cancelled due to the "covid19 lockdown". Thanks to Emerald Star's Covid19 charter we were able to rebook our holiday to August instead.
So come and join us for our new adventure on the Shannon and keep checking back for daily updates!
Day 1 Saturday 15th Augsut 2020:
After a few pre-departure delays thanks to some missing boat equipment and COVD19 restrictions we eventually set off from Carrick-on-Shannon at 1615 onboard the Vision 3 No. 21, some 45 minutes later than I had planned. After a nice leisurely cruise we arrived at Albert Lock and watched in amusement as the Carrickcraft boat in front of us planted itself into the lock gate while entering the lock to the sound of smashed glasses, plates and cups! Lets hope we didn't do the same! Thankfully we didn't.
Passed the lock we headed from Dromod. Running 45 minutes later than planned, Dromod was always going to be a gamble for space and we arrived to find nothing available. A Carrickcraft boat did kindly offer us to raft alongside but we decided to try Roosky for space and found a spot on the east bank where we moored up for the night.
Day 2 Sunday 16th August 2020:
After a relaxing morning, we set off from Roosky at 1030 to head to Termonbarry for lunch. A bit of a drama at the jetty before the bridge when the engine cut out with no warning, which meant a hasty restart and abandoning the mooring attempt and doing a circle for a 2nd attempt, while a private boat looked on in scorn no doubt!
After getting through the bridge and lock we moored up for lunch before heading south through Lough Ree to Portrunny to moor for the night. A beautiful day for cruising on Lough Ree despite the overcast clouds.
Day 3 Monday 17th August 2020:
The first task this morning before departure was to move the boat to the pump out berth to empty the two waste tanks onboard. I had planned to do this on Sunday night, the pumpout berth was free but another boat was alongside and I wasn't happy with the space to fit into.
That task completed we left Portrunny a little after 1030 and first headed South to round Inchcleraun Island before heading North to Lanesborough / Ballyleague where we stopped for lunch and went to the shop for supplies. While there a friend heading from Westport to Cork stopped by to say hello.
After lunch we continued up river towards Termonbarry with the weather threatening to turn against us. Just before Termonbarry is the entrance to the Clondra Canal and at that stage the heavens had opened and we got soaked as we ventured up the canal to Clondra Lock. At the lock we found a very rain shy lock keeper who refused point blank to venture out of his hut until the rain had eased off, it's ok for us to get soaked to the skin however!
I asked the lock keeper what the airdraft was like under the N5 bridge on the Camlin River? "Oh you won't fit under it". Great, we'll have to endure this "gentleman" once again in the morning to return to the River Shannon. The lock out of the way we ventured up the Clondra Canal and took a sharp right to onto the Camlin River to moor at Richmond Harbour. Our boat was too big to fit through the lock into the main harbour but there is limited space on the river itself. Space was limited today and we accepted the kind offer from the skipper of "Challenger" to raft alongside his boat for the night. Another boating item ticked off the list.
The weather had absolutely soaked everything, including the DSLR which was suffering from condensation so some of the pictures are of a substandard quality. After a change of clothes, we retired to the Richmond Inn pub for a excellent meal and a couple of drinks. I recommend the steak!
Day 4 Tuesday 18th August 2020:
We woke up to yet more rain on Tuesday morning. A quick check of the weather forcast suggested the rain would be gone by 1100 so we decided to hold off on our departure until the rain abated.
Talking to the skipper of Challenger the previous evening, he urged me to creep up to the low N5 bridge and see if I would fit under it, if not let the current take the boat back the 50 odd metres to the entrance to the Clondra Canal where I could also turn the boat around.
Leaving Richmond Harbour the crew (and myself!) were expecting to take a left into the Clondra Canal but approaching the canal entrance and looking at the clearance under the bridge ahead I reckoned the boat would fit under. It's worth a shot and I carried straight on. Happy that we would fit under I continued onwards. To fit under the bridge, I would need to sit on the floor of the boat as we passed under the bridge with about 30cm of headroom to spare. The River Camlin would be explored after all!
We proceeded slowly up the Camlin River with some narrow sections and tight turns, meant progress was slow. Thankfully we didn't meet another boat coming the other way otherwise that could have been fun!
Joining the River Shannon once again north of Termonbarry we headed for Roosky Lock. The plan was to head straight to Kilglass in the Carnadoe Lakes but our late departure from Richmond and slow progress on the Camlin meant it looked like we wouldn't make the lock before it closed for lunch. Arriving at 1240 the lock keeper advised us to moor up as he wouldn't let us through until after lunch.
With a forced lunch break at Roosky we decided to drop Kilglass from the itinerary and head directly to our overnight location of the Silver Eel Pub at Grange at the very end of the isolated Carnadoe Lakes.
The cruise through the Black Lough and Grange Lough was beautiful and we arrived into bankside mooring at Grange without incident. However while mooring an expensive Ted Bakers Sunglasses ended up in the water, never to be seen again, despite a swim to try and retrieve them!
The evening at Grange was fabulous and we were joined for the night by another Emerald Star boat moored behind us.
Day 5 Wednesday 19th August 2020:
Setting off from Grange at 1000 we cruised to Drumsna Railway Bridge to photo the 1105 Sligo - Connolly passing over. I last visited here in October 2009 to witness the railway bridge being renewed over the river in a €5.5 million project. Once the train had passed we continued onto Drumsna Village for lunch.
After lunch we headed for Carrick-on-Shannon, first having to pass through Albert Lock. In the space of 90 minutes the weather conditions had deteriorated somewhat and a fair wind was blowing up the canal to the lock entrance which made mooring at the waiting jetty slightly more challenging. Due to the post lunchbreak rush hour it took us an hour to get through the lock and onwards to Carrick-on-Shannon.
Arrival at Carrick was in the middle of a heavy rain shower and once again the waste tanks required to be emptied so we moored at the pumpout machine just south of the bridge and got take task done as quickly as possible in the rain. We then moved to boat to the Waterways Ireland jetty opposite the Landmark Hotel and made sure the ropes were well secured for the storm tonight.
After meeting some friends for dinner in the hotel we retired to the boat for a few alcoholic beverages.
Day 6 Thursday 20th August 2020:
After a rocky night, but I slept soundly, we emerged to a beautiful sunny morning but a bit windy. We moved the boat from the public mooring to the Emerald Star base for a few hours and with a break in the weather we decided to strike out for Lough Key Forest Park, departing at 1415.
Our original plan had us going to Boyle for lunch, but this was dropped and we headed straight to our overnight mooring in the park. The Boyle River is a lovely navigation and the Lakeside Restaurant looks like a good place to stopover for lunch or dinner at a future date.
Thursday evening in Lough Key Forest Park was spent on the boat as the rain never stopped. Thankfully a film on netflix cheered up the spirts of those on board. Even the dogs were depressed!
Day 7 Friday 21st August 2020:
On Friday morning we explored the Forest Park which had suffered a lot of fallen trees from Storm Ellen. Departing Lough Key Forest Park at lunchtime we got as far as Clarendon Lock and waited for it to reopen at 1400.
Once through the lock it was a pleasant cruise down the Boyle River to the River Shannon where we took a turn to port and headed up the River Shannon, passing the entrance to Leitrim Village and the Shannon Erne Waterway as far as Battlebridge Lock.
Battlebridge is the limit of navigation for large vessels as the lock, giving access to Lough Allen is smaller compared to the other locks on the navigation. We turned around here and headed back to Leitrim and moored in the Leitrim Marina Hotel for the night. Manoeuvring a large vessel such as a Vision into the marina hotel was a bit tricky and it took two attempts to get in, but we got there and moored up successfully for the night.
Day 8 Saturday 22nd August 2020:
As we had to have the boat back in the Emerald Star base at 0900 we departed Leitrim Marina Hotel at 0800. A strong current meant the 50 minute cruise was completed in 41 minutes and we arrived into the base just after 0840. Another week of cruising over! Until the next time....
Read MoreIn a break from tradition and with thanks to Covid19, this years cruise is from Carrick-on-Shannon instead of the more traditional starting point of Portumna that we have used in previous years.
Our 2020 cruise on the Shannon was originally planned for May from Portumna but this was cancelled due to the "covid19 lockdown". Thanks to Emerald Star's Covid19 charter we were able to rebook our holiday to August instead.
So come and join us for our new adventure on the Shannon and keep checking back for daily updates!
Day 1 Saturday 15th Augsut 2020:
After a few pre-departure delays thanks to some missing boat equipment and COVD19 restrictions we eventually set off from Carrick-on-Shannon at 1615 onboard the Vision 3 No. 21, some 45 minutes later than I had planned. After a nice leisurely cruise we arrived at Albert Lock and watched in amusement as the Carrickcraft boat in front of us planted itself into the lock gate while entering the lock to the sound of smashed glasses, plates and cups! Lets hope we didn't do the same! Thankfully we didn't.
Passed the lock we headed from Dromod. Running 45 minutes later than planned, Dromod was always going to be a gamble for space and we arrived to find nothing available. A Carrickcraft boat did kindly offer us to raft alongside but we decided to try Roosky for space and found a spot on the east bank where we moored up for the night.
Day 2 Sunday 16th August 2020:
After a relaxing morning, we set off from Roosky at 1030 to head to Termonbarry for lunch. A bit of a drama at the jetty before the bridge when the engine cut out with no warning, which meant a hasty restart and abandoning the mooring attempt and doing a circle for a 2nd attempt, while a private boat looked on in scorn no doubt!
After getting through the bridge and lock we moored up for lunch before heading south through Lough Ree to Portrunny to moor for the night. A beautiful day for cruising on Lough Ree despite the overcast clouds.
Day 3 Monday 17th August 2020:
The first task this morning before departure was to move the boat to the pump out berth to empty the two waste tanks onboard. I had planned to do this on Sunday night, the pumpout berth was free but another boat was alongside and I wasn't happy with the space to fit into.
That task completed we left Portrunny a little after 1030 and first headed South to round Inchcleraun Island before heading North to Lanesborough / Ballyleague where we stopped for lunch and went to the shop for supplies. While there a friend heading from Westport to Cork stopped by to say hello.
After lunch we continued up river towards Termonbarry with the weather threatening to turn against us. Just before Termonbarry is the entrance to the Clondra Canal and at that stage the heavens had opened and we got soaked as we ventured up the canal to Clondra Lock. At the lock we found a very rain shy lock keeper who refused point blank to venture out of his hut until the rain had eased off, it's ok for us to get soaked to the skin however!
I asked the lock keeper what the airdraft was like under the N5 bridge on the Camlin River? "Oh you won't fit under it". Great, we'll have to endure this "gentleman" once again in the morning to return to the River Shannon. The lock out of the way we ventured up the Clondra Canal and took a sharp right to onto the Camlin River to moor at Richmond Harbour. Our boat was too big to fit through the lock into the main harbour but there is limited space on the river itself. Space was limited today and we accepted the kind offer from the skipper of "Challenger" to raft alongside his boat for the night. Another boating item ticked off the list.
The weather had absolutely soaked everything, including the DSLR which was suffering from condensation so some of the pictures are of a substandard quality. After a change of clothes, we retired to the Richmond Inn pub for a excellent meal and a couple of drinks. I recommend the steak!
Day 4 Tuesday 18th August 2020:
We woke up to yet more rain on Tuesday morning. A quick check of the weather forcast suggested the rain would be gone by 1100 so we decided to hold off on our departure until the rain abated.
Talking to the skipper of Challenger the previous evening, he urged me to creep up to the low N5 bridge and see if I would fit under it, if not let the current take the boat back the 50 odd metres to the entrance to the Clondra Canal where I could also turn the boat around.
Leaving Richmond Harbour the crew (and myself!) were expecting to take a left into the Clondra Canal but approaching the canal entrance and looking at the clearance under the bridge ahead I reckoned the boat would fit under. It's worth a shot and I carried straight on. Happy that we would fit under I continued onwards. To fit under the bridge, I would need to sit on the floor of the boat as we passed under the bridge with about 30cm of headroom to spare. The River Camlin would be explored after all!
We proceeded slowly up the Camlin River with some narrow sections and tight turns, meant progress was slow. Thankfully we didn't meet another boat coming the other way otherwise that could have been fun!
Joining the River Shannon once again north of Termonbarry we headed for Roosky Lock. The plan was to head straight to Kilglass in the Carnadoe Lakes but our late departure from Richmond and slow progress on the Camlin meant it looked like we wouldn't make the lock before it closed for lunch. Arriving at 1240 the lock keeper advised us to moor up as he wouldn't let us through until after lunch.
With a forced lunch break at Roosky we decided to drop Kilglass from the itinerary and head directly to our overnight location of the Silver Eel Pub at Grange at the very end of the isolated Carnadoe Lakes.
The cruise through the Black Lough and Grange Lough was beautiful and we arrived into bankside mooring at Grange without incident. However while mooring an expensive Ted Bakers Sunglasses ended up in the water, never to be seen again, despite a swim to try and retrieve them!
The evening at Grange was fabulous and we were joined for the night by another Emerald Star boat moored behind us.
Day 5 Wednesday 19th August 2020:
Setting off from Grange at 1000 we cruised to Drumsna Railway Bridge to photo the 1105 Sligo - Connolly passing over. I last visited here in October 2009 to witness the railway bridge being renewed over the river in a €5.5 million project. Once the train had passed we continued onto Drumsna Village for lunch.
After lunch we headed for Carrick-on-Shannon, first having to pass through Albert Lock. In the space of 90 minutes the weather conditions had deteriorated somewhat and a fair wind was blowing up the canal to the lock entrance which made mooring at the waiting jetty slightly more challenging. Due to the post lunchbreak rush hour it took us an hour to get through the lock and onwards to Carrick-on-Shannon.
Arrival at Carrick was in the middle of a heavy rain shower and once again the waste tanks required to be emptied so we moored at the pumpout machine just south of the bridge and got take task done as quickly as possible in the rain. We then moved to boat to the Waterways Ireland jetty opposite the Landmark Hotel and made sure the ropes were well secured for the storm tonight.
After meeting some friends for dinner in the hotel we retired to the boat for a few alcoholic beverages.
Day 6 Thursday 20th August 2020:
After a rocky night, but I slept soundly, we emerged to a beautiful sunny morning but a bit windy. We moved the boat from the public mooring to the Emerald Star base for a few hours and with a break in the weather we decided to strike out for Lough Key Forest Park, departing at 1415.
Our original plan had us going to Boyle for lunch, but this was dropped and we headed straight to our overnight mooring in the park. The Boyle River is a lovely navigation and the Lakeside Restaurant looks like a good place to stopover for lunch or dinner at a future date.
Thursday evening in Lough Key Forest Park was spent on the boat as the rain never stopped. Thankfully a film on netflix cheered up the spirts of those on board. Even the dogs were depressed!
Day 7 Friday 21st August 2020:
On Friday morning we explored the Forest Park which had suffered a lot of fallen trees from Storm Ellen. Departing Lough Key Forest Park at lunchtime we got as far as Clarendon Lock and waited for it to reopen at 1400.
Once through the lock it was a pleasant cruise down the Boyle River to the River Shannon where we took a turn to port and headed up the River Shannon, passing the entrance to Leitrim Village and the Shannon Erne Waterway as far as Battlebridge Lock.
Battlebridge is the limit of navigation for large vessels as the lock, giving access to Lough Allen is smaller compared to the other locks on the navigation. We turned around here and headed back to Leitrim and moored in the Leitrim Marina Hotel for the night. Manoeuvring a large vessel such as a Vision into the marina hotel was a bit tricky and it took two attempts to get in, but we got there and moored up successfully for the night.
Day 8 Saturday 22nd August 2020:
As we had to have the boat back in the Emerald Star base at 0900 we departed Leitrim Marina Hotel at 0800. A strong current meant the 50 minute cruise was completed in 41 minutes and we arrived into the base just after 0840. Another week of cruising over! Until the next time....
Shep enjoying his new adventures. Sat 15.08.20
