Best Boat Guide

Boating holidays in Ireland have become extremely popular in recent years. And as the world financial crises bites harder, more and more people from mainland Britain are travelling shorter distances away from home for their holidays. Ireland fits in with that thinking perfectly.

The Emerald Isle has waterways and rivers to rival the best in Europe, or indeed in the world. From the highly popular and well known river Shannon and river Erne to the lesser known areas of Ballyconnell Canal and Lough Ree, there's something for everyone.

The river Shannon is the major river in Ireland, and not surprisingly, most boating holidays in Ireland take in at least part of this waterway. At 240 miles long the Shannon is the longest river in Ireland, exiting to the sea west of Limerick City at the Shannon Estuary.

The river Shannon has three large lakes along its course. These are Lough Ree, Lough Derg and Lough Allen. There are plenty of excellent opportunities for boating in all of these lakes. In all of the huge waterway network in Ireland, much of which dominates the west of Ireland, there is around 500 miles of navigable rivers, canals and lakes.

Of course, making use of the extensive waterways in Ireland is nothing new. Trade and commerce has centred on the waterways as a means of moving produce for centuries. Enemies of Ireland have also used the rivers and lakes on occasion. In 937 the Vikings based in Limerick fought with the Vikings based in Dublin when they met in Lough Ree.

There is also a network of canals that many of the boating holidays in Ireland make good use of. The rivers Shannon and Erne are linked with a canal, and the river Shannon is linked by canal to Dublin. Some of the better known canals include the Newry Canal, Grand Canal, Royal canal and the Ulster Canal.

The lakes, or Loughs, of Ireland can be very satisfying places to explore. They all have their own peculiarities and individual charm, and no two are alike. Lough Key, for example, is an excellent waterway to explore if you like islands. The lake is studded with little islands, mainly close to its eastern and western shores. Along the northern shore of Lough Key there's the Curlew Mountains, which seem higher than they actually are.

Lough Ree, located at just about the central point of Ireland, also has its share of little islands. It is one of Ireland's biggest lakes. It is some 20 miles long and widens to six and a quarter miles at its widest point. Lough Allen, by contrast, is almost island-free, but it has the majestic Iron Mountain, or Sliabh an Iarainn, dominating the area to the southeast. If you need a break from cruising down the waterways, this is an excellent mountain for walking on.

Boating holidays in Ireland can be as varied as you wish them to be. You can choose a large cruiser boat, a Pénichette barge, or a traditional narrow boat, suitable for exploring the canals and narrower waterway systems. Whichever size of boat you choose, one things is sure, you will discover some of Ireland's hidden secrets, and be amazed at just how green the Emerald Isle really is.