Download "Navigating Ireland's Inland Waterways", a Waterways-Ireland-produced 32page compendium of essential information for navigating the waterways under Waterways Ireland jurisdiction, including lock times, phone numbers, location of pump-outs, toilets, slipways etc.
Available as a downloadable PDF file from here (4.4MB)
 

RIVER SHANNON (Map) 160 miles (257 km) of cruising water covering 80 square miles (129 square km) from Killaloe to Lough Allen in Co. Leitrim together with the Carnadoe and Boyle Waters with seven locks. A further 70 miles (113 km) from Killaloe to the sea at Loop Head through Limerick with one double lock at Ardnacrusha Power Station. Navigation administration by Waterways Ireland, and boats are required to be registered ( no charge) with engines of over 10bhp.  More Information on the Shannon is here.

Boat dimensions: Killaloe to Lough Key 102 ft (31m) x 30 ft (9m) x 5 ft (1.5m), River Camlin and Lough Allen Canal 64 ft (19.5m) x 13 ft (4m) x 4 ft (1.2m), Killaloe to Limerick 100 ft (30m) x 18 ft (5.5m) x 5 ft (1.5m).

Headroom: Minimum clearance at fixed bridges at normal summer levels Killaloe to Lough Key 13 ft (4m), River Camlin 12 ft (3.7m), Killaloe to Limerick 11 ft (3.4m). Swing or lifting bridges at Portumna 4 ft (1.2m), Tarmonbarry 9 ft (2.7m), Roosky 11 ft (3.3m), in closed positions.  Headroom on the Lough Allen Canal is 11.5ft (3.5m) at Battlebridge, the lowest of the bridges on this canal.

Slipways: Facilities for larger craft at Killaloe, Portumna, Banagher, Athlone, Inner Lakes (Lough Ree), Carrick-on -Shannon. For smaller craft at Garrykennedy, Dromineer, Mountshannon, Terryglass, Rossmore, Portumna Castle, Hodson Bay, Barley Harbour, Roosky, Dromod Harbour, Jamestown. For rowing boats at Kilgarvan, Athlone, Portrunny, Lanesbrough, Kilglass, Acres Lake, Cootehall, Rockingham.

Dry docks: Killaloe, Clondara and Roosky.

Charges: €1.50 per lock or opening bridge paid to the keeper.

More Information on the Shannon is here

THE SHANNON-ERNE WATERWAY / (formerly, the Ballinamore-Ballyconnell Canal) (Map) 38 miles (61 km) long linking the village of Leitrim with the Erne system down stream from Belturbet. 16 locks and 31 bridges in total, 8 locks from Leitrim (Lock No. 16) to the summit level at Lough Scur and 8 locks to the Woodford River and on to the Erne navigation. More Information on the Shannon-Erne Waterway is here

Boat dimensions: 79 ft (24m) x 15 ft (4.5m) x 4 ft (1.2m).
NOTE: At Lough Scur the Shannon navigation marker system changes to the Erne marker system.

Headroom: air space 10.5 ft (3.2m) over 10 ft (3.0m) width.

Slipways and Services: Locks and other services are operational from 9.00am until 8.00pm daily. Leitrim, Keshcarrigan, Ballinamore, Haughton's Shore (Lough Garadice), Ballyconnell, Aghalane.

Charges: Swipe Cards are available which operate the locks automatically. The cards can be bought for €6.35 (10 units) and €12.70 (20 units) and €22.80 (40 units) from the Waterway patrollers and at the 1st Lock and 16th Lock. The charges are as follows; Lock Passage 1 unit, Shower 2 units, Laundry-Washing Machine and Drier 5 units each, Chemical Toilet 2 units, Pump-out 10 units. Public toilet free.  A full list of Smart Card suppliers is here.

More Information on the Shannon-Erne Waterway is here

ERNE NAVIGATION (Map) Comprising Upper and Lower Lough Erne connected by the River Erne through Enniskillen. 40 miles (64 km) of cruising water from Belturbet to Belleek covering 40 square miles (64 square km) with one lock at Enniskillen (gates normally left open but lockage required when lakes are at different levels for electricity generation purposes). There is no access from the sea.  The Erne Navigation connects to the Shannon Navigation via The Shannon-Erne Waterway (re-opened 1994).  More Information on the Erne is here.

Boat dimensions: Beam 20 ft (6m) if lock open. 110 ft (33.5m) x 20 ft (6m) if the lock is operating. Recommended draft not exceeding 4 ft (1.2m).

Headroom: Minimum clearance 20 ft (6m) (railway viaduct 15 ft (4.5m) on an alternative channel). Overhead cables 28 ft (8.5m) (except Kesh River 20 ft (6m) ).

Slipways: For large cruisers at Belturbet, Bellanaleck, Enniskillen, Castle Archdale, Muckross (near Kesh), Belleek. For smaller boats at Blaney Bay, Corrindillar, Carrybridge, Derryadd, Geaglum, Kilmore Manor House, Rosseigh House.

Charges: None, but registration required for craft with engines of more than 10bhp obtainable from: Waterways Ireland.

More Information on the Erne is here

GRAND CANAL SYSTEM AND BARROW NAVIGATION (Map) Main line 82 miles (132 km) from Dublin to River Shannon with 44 locks. Naas Canal 2.5 miles (4 km) with 5 locks. Barrow Line from Lowtown to River Barrow at Athy 28 miles (45 km) with 9 locks. Barrow Navigation from Athy to St. Mullins 41 miles (66 km) with 23 locks. Barrow, Nore and Suir tidal waters 55 miles (88 km).  More Information on the Grand Canal and Barrow Line is here.  More Information on the Grand Canal and Barrow Line is here.

Boat dimensions: 61 ft (18.5m) x 13 ft (3.9m) x 4 ft (1.2m). Depths in dry weather and in Dublin are reduced to 3.5 ft (1m). Barrow Navigation sometimes reduced to 2.5 ft (0.76m).

Headroom: 8.5 ft (2.6m) over a width of 8 ft (2.4m) on curved arches.

Slipways: Clondalkin, Robertstown, Edenderry, Tullamore, Rathangan, Monasterevin, Athy, Carlow, Bagenalstown, Goresbridge, Graiguenamanagh, Inistioge.

Dry docks: Athy, Tullamore, Shannon Harbour.

Charges: Permits at the rate of €0.60 per lock ( large sea lock Ringsend €12.70) obtainable from Waterways Ireland or from Canal Depot, Tullamore or from lockeepers at Lowtown, Shannon Harbour, Carlow and Graiguenamanagh. Bank mooring, free for reasonable stop overs, €12.70 per month. Annual permits allowing unlimited lockage and bank mooring €126. Dry dock: three days €126, extra day €13.90 .

More Information on the Grand Canal and Barrow Line is here

More Information on the Barrow Navigation is here

CORRIB NAVIGATION Lough Corrib 27 miles (43 km) from Galway to Maam Bridge covering 68 square miles (100 square km) of cruising water with no locks, no access to sea, no firms hiring cruisers. 

Slipways: Galway and Oughterard.

More Information on the Corrib is here

LOWER BANN 38 miles (51 km) from Lough Neagh to the sea at Coleraine with 5 locks. Administered by Waterways Ireland.

Boat dimensions: 120 ft (36.6m) x 20 ft (6.1m) x 5 ft (1.5m).

Headroom: 4.15m.

Charges: £1.00 per lock payable to the lockeeper.

Slipways: Seaton's Marina, Coleraine Marina, The Cutts, Loughan Island, Drumaheglis, Movanagher, Hutchinsons Quay, Portglenone, Newferry, Toome.

LOUGH NEAGH 160 square miles of cruising water with access from the sea through the Lower Bann.

Slipways: Antrim, Ballyronan, Kinnego and Maghery. At Benburb, Blackwaterstown, Bond Bridge, Moy and Verner's Bridge on the River Blackwater. At Portadown on the Upper Bann.

More Information on the Lower Bann and Lough Neagh is here

THE ROYAL CANAL (Map) 90 miles (145 km) from Dublin to River Shannon with 46 locks. Navigation is theoretically open from Dublin to the Shannon - however, there are obstructions to navigation in Dublin - see here.  Hire fleets operating.  More Information on the Royal Canal is here.

Boat dimensions: 75 ft (22.9m) x 13.3 ft (4.0m) x 4 ft (1.2m).

Headroom: 10.0 ft (3.05m) over a width of 8 ft (2.4m).

Slipways: Near Leixlip, at Maynooth, Enfield, Thomastown, Mullingar, Ballinea Bridge and Ballynacargy.

CLOSED NAVIGATIONS Ulster Canal (Feasibility study completed); Newry Navigation (Closed but under investigation); Lagan Navigation (Closed but under investigation); Kilbeggan Branch (Closed but under investigation.); Tralee Ship Canal (Restoration now in progress). Boyne Navigation; Strabane & Foyle Navigation; Corbally and Mountmellick Branches.

IWAI / WATERWAYS SERVICE PUBLICATIONS See our list of waterways-related publications, many of which are available from the IWAI shop.

ADMIRALTY CHARTS Lough Derg No. 5082. Lough Ree No. 5078, Lough Erne No. 5083, Lough Corrib No. 5079, Bann Estuary No. 2499, Lough Neagh No. 2163. Agent: Windmill Leisure & Marine Ltd, Unit 3A Calmount Park, Calmount Road, Dublin 12.

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