Welcome to this photo archive. These photos were taken in the 1960's by George O'Brien Kennedy. He was a naval architect who (amongst much else) founded one of the earliest Shannon hire-firms "K-Line", lived on the St Brigid, ran a business in the sheds at Shannon Harbour and designed and built many boats. George O'Brien Kennedy published an autobiography "Not all at Sea" in 1997.
You can download a 1971 Hire Brochure or a brochure for a Shannon 30 boat.

"K Line" operated from 1960/61 to 1971/72.
Ruth Delany, in her magnum opus "The Shannon Navigation", recalls that: George O'Brien Kennedy and his wife had two children amd a few thousand pounds and they planned to design and build their own boats for their own hire company. Bord Fáilte was not prepared to give them financial help but did agree to guarantee a loan of £10,000, wich they turned down as too big a risk. They managed to secure a site at jamestown Bridge for £250 and they rented a tiny flat and yard in killiney, Co. Dublin, where they built their first boat. While the boat was under construction, they purchased the CIE boat "St. Brigid" for £320 and one canal boat, 52M for £120. "St. Brigid" was used as a home at Shannon Harbour where they took a lease on the transshipping shed from CIE. They eventually moved their floating home to Jamestown where they established the K Line Cruiser base. They sold 52M and bought the Peter Farrell. They employed John Weaving to operate her and lay markers and subsequently sold her to John. "Inland Waterways News" records in April 1970 that two new hire firms had started in Carrick: Carrick Craft and Emerald Star with a total of 50 boats and in January 1971 it was recorded that there were over 80 boats for hire on the north Shannon and that included K Line. However, the small firms could not compete with the new larger firms who had received grants from Bord Fáilte who refused to give back-dated grants to the existing hire firms. So the writing was firmly on the wall by the early 1970s and K Line closed its doors.

From the 1971 Brochure:
"PLOVER" and "GREBE": Length 19', Beam 6' 6". "Plover" is a centreboard boat, with Seagull Centuary Plus, clutch model outboard engine as auxiliary. " Grebe " is a keel yacht with draft of 3' and a 4 h.p. Stuart-Turner inboard auxiliary. Both yachts are similarly rigged wilth red Terylene sails, arranged for simplicity in sail handliing and lowering of masts. Internal arrangements as shown in diagram. Forward berths convert to double. W.C. is yacht type, partitioned off but not enclosed. Cooking is by Galor gas -cooker with grill. Sitting headroom.

"INIS MORE" and "INIS BO-FIN" ; Length 33' Beam 9' 6", Draft 2' 9". (With 1/2 ton iron ballast keel.) Powered by B.M.C. Marine diesel engine, good speed with wonderful economy (8 knots, 1p per mile), and easy to handle. DelightfuU galley, gas cooker with high level grill and oven. Food cooler. SOLID FUEL HEATING STOVE with H.W. tank, electric razor point (220 volts), deep foam rubber mattresses, generous storage space, separate toilet and W.C.; also wash basin in stern cabin. Full head room throughout except in stern cabin. Exceptionally roomy and comfortable saloon.

6-Ton T.M. "MALLARD" and "CURLEW" ; Length 26', Beam 8', Draft 3' 3". (With 1 ton keel). True motor sailers, good performance under sail and power. With 300 sq. ft. of Terylene sail, and B.M.C. diesel engine, you have the delight of sailing the lakes and therefore really enjoying them, with the knowledge that in adverse conditions or when navigating the river sections, you have economical power immediately available: Very comfortable accommodation for 4, full headroom in saloon, with sitting acccommodation in addition to beds as bunk heads fold back. Separate after cabin and W.C. entered from cockpit. Calor gas cooker with gril and oven. Food cooler. A particularly handy rig has been evolved.

"INIS CEALTRA" ; Length 30', Beam 9' 9", Draft 2' 8". (With 1/2 ton iron ballast keel.). A very popular boat, powered by trouble-free and unsurpassed Velvo-Penta BB25 peltrol engine, very economical, speedy and manoeuvrable. Gator gas cooker wth grill and oven. Food cooler. SOLID FUEL STOVE with H.W. tank. Electric razor point (220 volts) in toilet. Maximum sleeping 5, with additional 'cot' for small child. Separate W.C. and toilet. Large cockpit with unique tailboard stern for bathing, fishing, etc. Cockpit awning and very complete ship and domestic equipment. Full headroom throughout.

Our thanks to Shane Kennedy, who has made this valuable archive available for us all to appreciate.

More similar albums are most welcome. Please contact us at: , if you have older family photos. Note that all photos are Copyright.