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Ireland - Boating Holidays
Regional Highlights
- The Rivers Shannon and Erne and surrounding lakes are an angler’s paradise, well-stocked with salmon, pike, bream, tench and perch
- High-tech locks and hundreds of moorings makes cruising very easy
- Traditional Irish pubs and lively celtic music welcome you ashore
- Majestic scenery around the Upper and Lower Lough Erne – where steep cliffs rise from the shimmering waters
- Portumna’s National Park and 17th Century Castle for walking and sightseeing
- Championship golf courses close to the waterways
- Ancient religious sites – visit Clonmacnoise near Shannonbridge
- Small towns, restaurants and bars at Lough Derg, the largest of the lakes to visit
- From Carrick-on-Shannon, the hub of the waterways, explore the beautiful scenery around Lough Key
Take centuries-old monastic settlements, lush landscapes, dramatic scenery and delightful small villages with a big heart - and you have all the ingredients for a perfect cruising holiday. No wonder cruising the River Shannon with Emerald Star is such a popular holiday option in Ireland.
Suggested Cruises in Ireland
Week Breaks
Southern Shannon Cruise
Carrick-on-Shannon - Shannonbridge - Carrick-on-Shannon
Visit Jamestown before enjoying cruising on the wider river beyond Lanesborough into pretty Lough Ree with its diverse wildlife and inspiring scenery. Play golf at Glasson or Hodson Bay before reaching Athlone, the commercial centre of the Midlands and the culinary capital of the inland waterways.
- Duration:
- One Week
- Cruise Type:
- Return Trip
- Distance:
- 240 km
- Locks:
- 4
- Cruise Time:
- 40 hrs
Lough Erne Upper Cruise
Belturbet - Belleek - Belturbet
The Fermanagh Lakelands offers Upper Lough Erne with its mass of reed-covered islands to explore and Enniskillen as its hub. Lower Lough Erne is one of Europe’s least crowded waterways and Tully Castle, Boa Island and Castle Caldwell are just some of the attractions before reaching the home of the world famous Belleek Pottery.
- Duration:
- One Week
- Cruise Type:
- Return Trip
- Distance:
- 130 km
- Locks:
- 0
- Cruise Time:
- 22 hrs
The Angler's Cruise
Portumna - Killaloe - Portumna
Lough Derg is one of Ireland’s finest lakes and a haven for fishermen. It is renowned as a place of pilgrimage and surrounded by diverse cultural, social and sporting opportunities. Visit Portumna’s newly restored 17th century castle and walk in the beautiful National Park before cruising south to charming Terryglass and onwards to the ...
- Duration:
- One Week
- Cruise Type:
- Return Trip
- Distance:
- 64 km
- Locks:
- 0
- Cruise Time:
- 12 hrs
Northern Shannon Cruise
Belturbet - Carrick-on-Shannon (or vice versa)
Use the modernised Shannon-Erne Waterway to join the Shannon at Leitrim and take a trip into Lough Allen where Drumshanbo is a must for fishing enthusiasts. The islandstudded Lough Key is the jewel among Roscommon’s lakes and its forest park is an outstanding feature in a region rich in natural attractions.
- Duration:
- One Week
- Cruise Type:
- One Way
- Distance:
- 75 km
- Locks:
- 16
- Cruise Time:
- 16 hrs
The Celtic Cruise
Carrick-on-Shannon - Portumna (or vice versa)
Visit Portumna’s impressive castle set in beautiful surroundings overlooking Lough Derg and Portumna Forest Park. Enjoy local hospitality en route in Lanesborough, Athlone and Shannonbridge and visit the ancient monastic site at Clonmacnoise.
- Duration:
- One Week
- Cruise Type:
- One Way
- Distance:
- 160 km
- Locks:
- 5
- Cruise Time:
- 30 hrs
Longer Breaks
The Emerald Isle Cruise
Portumna - Belturbet (or vice versa)
Cruise from Portumna to Belturbet along the length of the Shannon and its lakes. Go as far south as Killaloe and north to Belleek and enjoy all the natural, cultural, sporting and social attractions of the Shannon in between.
- Duration:
- 10 Nights
- Cruise Type:
- One Way
- Distance:
- 235 km
- Locks:
- 21
- Cruise Time:
- 66 hrs
