TNC On Tour Summer 2007 Page 18

The Tuesday Night Club Official Web Site

The Tuesday Night Club on Tour

Irish Summer Tour 2007

18 - Garrykennedy to Killaloe - Lough Derg and River Shannon Navigation.

Sunday 8th July 2007

Another short day! the plan was just to get to Killaloe, ready for transit down to Limerick, also to pick up Peter Wright and Trevor Burridge. We departed at 08:30 after assisting in Knocknagow's reverse out. Once round Parker Point, it was straight down the bottom arm of Lough Derg. The bottom of Lough Derg is at Ballyvally Point and the first markers guide you into the course of the Shannon.
There are twin towns at Killaloe Bridge, Ballina is on the east bank and Killaloe is on the west bank. Approaching Ballina there is a lot of new housing up on the hills. There are a couple of marinas just before Ballina, there is no longer a hire boat base here. On the Killaloe shore there is the entrance to the moribund Killaloe Canal, rendered obsolete when the course of the Shannon was flooded below Killaloe, during the construction of the Ardnacrusha Dam.
The old canal course is behind a narrow breakwater. There was no mooring available at the visitor moorings at Ballina and the new floating ones below the bridge were not yet finished, so we decided to moor on the outside of the breakwater at Killaloe. This is not to be recommended for cruisers as it is not that deep.
We gingerly went across to the breakwater, poling all the way, but found a reasonable depth, 4-5 foot, right up to the breakwater. After juggling our position, so as to use mooring rings provided for mooring in the old canal we moored up at 14:20. Martin, the provisions expert did a spot of shopping, while we waited for the arrival of Peter and Trevor at 18:45. It was a quick unpack, Then off to Cotty's Bar in Killaloe for a hearty meal and a Guinness.

We follow Knocknagow out of Garrykennedy Harbour. Lough Derg.

Parker Point. Lough Derg.

Rounding Parker Point. Lough Derg.

Lough Derg.

Scilly Island. Lough Derg.

Looking back at Lushing Rocks and Scilly Island. Mountshannon on the far shore. Lough Derg.

Looking across to Portroe. Lough Derg.

Reinthoo Point. Lough Derg.

Start of the buoyed channel into Killaloe/Ballina at Ballyvally Point. Lough Derg.

New housing in Ballina. Lough Derg.

On the right bank is the entrance to the old canal (Killaloe / south bank). River Shannon Navigation.

Looking back towards Lough Derg. River Shannon Navigation.

Hire base and marina at Ballina (north bank). River Shannon Navigation.

Killaloe Bridge. River Shannon Navigation.

Due to the Ballina moorings being full and Dragon Boat racing we find a perfectly deep, (but rather narrow!) mooring Killaloe side, on the bank that divides off the old canal. River Shannon Navigation.