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My Ireland

Looking for inspiration? Planning a trip? Or just want to scroll yourself happy? We'll show you an Ireland that's tailor-made for you.

  • #Landscapes
  • #CultureandHeritage
  • #OutdoorActivities
  • #Landmarks
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    Ireland cruises

    Self-drive boating holidays in Ireland are relaxing, varied and saturated in beautiful scenery. Start your cruising journey here

    Grand Canal Barge Trip Sallins Co Kildarewebsize2500x1200px Grand Canal Barge Trip Sallins Co Kildarewebsize2500x1200px
    Shannon Cruising Portumna Co Galwaywebsize2500x1200px Shannon Cruising Portumna Co Galwaywebsize2500x1200px
    Cruising at Lough Key Forest  Activity Park Boyle Co RoscommonWeb Size collage Cruising at Lough Key Forest  Activity Park Boyle Co RoscommonWeb Size collage
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    The sunlight sparkles on the water as you glide past lush countryside and quiet little towns. The only sounds you hear are birdsong and the water lapping at the sides of your cruiser. This is the kind of idyllic afternoon you can expect as you go cruising on one of Ireland’s rivers, canals or lakes. Peace, tranquillity and an escape from the demands of modern life.

    By going on a boat tour, you get to see the real Ireland; those hidden places that you would never know existed if you only journeyed by road. This wild, unspoiled landscape has hardly changed in thousands of years, and you can see evidence of the country’s rich history everywhere. Ancient standing stones and mysterious stone statues, early Christian monasteries and round towers, impressive medieval castles and elegant mansions with their formal gardens.

    I find myself with the time to look deeper and I soon become a connoisseur of the various shades of green in the passing reed beds.

    Owen Shears, The Guardian journalist, on travelling the River Shannon, the longest river in Ireland

    Cruising around the island of Ireland

    L-R: Barge on the Grand Canal, County Kildare; misty morning in Ballina, County Tipperary; fishing on Lough Erne, County Fermanagh; a dog-friendly boating holiday, County Limerick

    Ireland cruises

    With around 4,000 inland lakes, connected by a network of rivers and canals, Ireland offers endless possibilities to the cruising enthusiast. Just look at a map of the island and you can see how the country is split by its network of rivers and lakes. These inland waterways used to be busy transport routes but these days, their occupants are mostly leisure cruisers of all sizes, taking advantage of the lack of commercial traffic on Irish waters.

    One of the wonderful things about river cruises is that you can stop and explore where and when you like. Gourmet meals, island picnics, activity parks, castles, gardens, bike trips, canoeing, angling: all and more are within easy reach of the water. And should a night on dry land be of interest, you can choose anything from a cosy B&B to a luxury castle hotel.

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    Enniskillen Castle, County Fermanagh

    Fancy a boating holiday in Ireland?

    Hop aboard for the best river and canal boat trips around Ireland

    Find out more

    Cruising: need to know

    It couldn't be easier to hire or rent a boat. You don’t need a license to operate a cruiser or a barge on the island of Ireland. And while experience is always useful, you don't even need to have driven a boat before.

    Full training will be provided when you hire a vessel. When you’re ready to take the helm on your boat hire, you’ll be given navigational charts and a captain’s handbook. Couldn't be simpler!

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    Cruising on the Fermanagh Lakelands

    5 unmissable waterways

    The Shannon-Erne Waterway is 63km of pristine river, lake and still-water canal that dips through Northern Ireland and along Carrick-on-Shannon.
    Lough Key Forest and Activity Park is fun for all the family! On the water, don't miss the ancient McDermott's Castle on Castle Island.
    These genteel canals connect bustling Dublin with the fertile farmlands and cosy villages of the midlands.
    Navigable for 65km between the historic Athy in County Kildare and St Mullins in County Carlow, this enchanting journey is full of woodland valleys and ancient hinterlands.
    This stretch of water is a hub of activity, with watersports, angling and cruising all popular along these historic plains.

    Boatloads of adventures

    Don't miss these things to see and do

    Accommodation

    Wineport Lodge

    4/5

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    Westmeath

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    Attraction

    Lough Key Forest and Activity Park

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    Roscommon

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    Accommodation

    The Anner Hotel

    4/5

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    Tipperary

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    Accommodation

    Finn Lough - Suites

    5/5

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    Enniskillen

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    Attraction

    Carrick Craft

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    Bellanaleck

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    Attraction

    Marble Arch Caves

    4/5

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    Enniskillen

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    Attraction

    The Royal Canal Way

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    Dublin

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    Attraction

    The Grand Canal Way

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    Kildare

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    Attraction

    Barrow Way

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    Kildare

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