TNC On Tour Summer 2007 Page 24

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The Tuesday Night Club on Tour

Irish Summer Tour 2007

24 - Clonmacnoise to Lecarrow - River Shannon Navigation, Lough Ree (inc lower lake), River Inny and Lecarrow Branch.

Saturday 14th July 2007

We had an 08:00 start, with the idea that Athlone Lock would be in operation by the time we arrived. We did not rush against the flow and arrived at Athlone Lock at 09:50. As always seems to be the case with Athlone we managed a longish 30 minute wait. Come 11:55 we entered the bottom of Lough Ree in a rainstorm, with a youngsters Opi sailboat race going on ahead. Once clear of the entrance markers we headed on the markered course to the west of the Big and Little Yellow Islands, towards Hodson Bay, for our next quest of visiting all the Lough Ree harbours and rivers. At the entrance to Hodson Bay are two black markers protecting Pinnacle Rock. Once round the curved breakwater, we managed to find a mooring on the inside wall. Hodson Bay Harbour is flanked by the large Hodson Bay Hotel.
After our few minute visit we were off again. We passed again to the south of Pinnacle Rock and headed to the south of Beam Island, aiming for the bottom of the large Hare Island and the narrow passage into the Lower Lake, Kilinure Lough. So at 12:00 we past Coosan Point, to the south, with it's visitor mooring and small beach and Quigley's Marina to the north. We headed east to the bottom end of Killinure Lough and took the narrow entrance and connecting cut into Ballykeeran Lough. after a tour round the outside of the lake and missing the water-skiers we exited (12:30) and headed north up Killinure Lough to investigate the Glasson Golf Club visitor moorings.
Along the east bank of the lake we passed The Lakeside Hotel Moorings, Portaneena moorings and the moorings for the Wineport Lodge Restaurant. We curved round to the top of Killinure Lough, then found the red and black entrance makers to the little channel, between the reeds into the Golf Club jetty. After just managing a wind we took some photos (13:00), then scarpered, back out of the Lough. On the way out we found the tiny entrance to Coosan Lough and entered the cut (13:30). A brief circle of the Lough then ensued.
At 13:50 we past Coosan Point and left Killinure Lough. We headed to the north east, round Hare Island, going round the east side of the lower Lough Ree. Once round Hare Island we spotted the large black buoy that protects the shallows and rocks in Rinardo Bay, to the north and east. To make doubly sure of missing them we also went to the west of Long Shoal, then headed eastwards round the bottom of Inchmore and into Porlick Bay (14:40). The course was now northwards, between Inchmore, then Inchturk and the east side shore, aiming for the large red at the bottom Of Inchbofin and the course eastwards, through Derry, Noughaval and Inny Bays. At the end of Inny Bay we spotted the markers directing the way into the Inny River. The Inny River is not a destination as such, bankside moorings are as you find them!
After about a third of a mile we came across the head of navigation, the "Red Bridge". This modern concrete bridge (with red railings) presented no problem to Earnest and we investigated a way up. The flow was greater up there, so we did the tried method of "scanning" across the river, poling all the way to test for depth and for rocks, then planted the stern into the soft bankside, letting the current take the bow round in the now known deep area (16:30).
Come 17:25, we were at the large red buoy at the bottom of Inchbofin. The Plan was to head westwards, across Lough Ree, aiming for Big Red Buoy No3, then take the main course up the centre of the lake, missing the many small islands to the east, the outer one, Kings Island, being protected by a large black buoy. The was quite a south westerly wind blowing up, so we had an uncomfortable ride until we came close to red buoy No3 and turned northwards, then we started surfing along!
We continued up until we got to the narrow channel protecting Wood Shoal to the west and Iskeraulin Shoal to the east. A turn to the west was then made and we headed into Blackbrink Bay and the Lecarrow Canal. During the last bit of this manoeuvre we spotted a quite large cruiser go on the inside of Wood Shoal and cut the corner off. He was obviously also bound for Lecarrow, so we put a spurt on, to make sure we were first into the narrow Lecarrow Canal, as we knew there was limited moorings at Lecarrow Harbour.
We made it and got to Lecarrow Harbour at 19:10 and got the last free mooring. The cruiser breasted up OK, but shuffled up later as someone left. That night we dined on board to a meal of "emergency" tinned pies. Martin legged it up to the village and checked out the pub, Coffey's, attached to the mini mart. Martin arrived back in a fluster, he had forgotten his Euros, but still came back with the food, the landlord / shop owner telling him to pay when we came back for a pint! We did indeed return for a pint in this traditional little Irish pub come shop. On the way back we took some pictures of the mill, ripe for conversion. The Lecarrow Canal was initially dug to carry stone from a quarry to Athlone, where it was used in building the quays, lock etc.

Approaching Athlone. River Shannon Navigation.

Athlone. River Shannon Navigation.

Athlone. The town marina (charge levied). River Shannon Navigation.

Big Yellow and Little Yellow Island. Lough Ree.

We head over to Hodson Bay. Lough Ree.

Hodson Bay. Lough Ree.

The view from Hodson Bay. Lough Ree.

Passing across to Killinure Lough we skirt round an Opi race. Lough Ree.

Beam Island. Lough Ree.

Heading into Killinure Lough. Lough Ree.

Coosan Point moorings. Killinure Lough.

Quigley's Marina. Killinure Lough.

Looking back at Coosan Point and Quigley's Marina. Killinure Lough.

Heading into the inner part of Killinure Lough between Garnaugh and Friar's Islands.

We line up to enter the channel leading to Ballykeeran Lake. Killinure Lough.

The channel leading to Ballykeeran Lake.

Ballykeeran Lake.

The tiny channel leading to Coosan Lough...should we try it next time? Ballykeeran Lake.

Back in Killinure Lough we pass Portaneena Marine.

We head up the little channel to the Glassan Golf Club moorings. Killinure Lough.

Glassan Golf Club.

Glassan Golf Club moorings. Killinure Lough.

Leaving Glassan Golf Club moorings. Killinure Lough.

Wineport Lodge restaurant and moorings. Killinure Lough.

Heading back down, passed Portaneena Marina. Killinure Lough.

We take the channel into Coosan Lough. Killinure Lough.

Looking back at Killinure Point. Killinure Lough.

We take the channel into Coosan Lough. Killinure Lough.

Looking back down the channel into Coosan Lough. Killinure Lough.

Coosan Lough. Killinure Lough.

The diesel point at Quigley's Marina. Killinure Lough.

Coosan Point moorings. Killinure Lough.

Killinure Lough.

Exiting Killinure Lough we turn in behind Hare Island. Lough Ree.

Looking back down Lough Ree are we go behind Hare Island.

Rounding Hare Island. Lough Ree. It is essential to go round the black marker protecting Hexagon Shoal.

Lining up to go round Inchmore, the island in the distance. Lough Ree.

We go round the back of Inchbofin, bound for Inny Bay. Lough Ree.

Inny Bay. Lough Ree.

Inny Bay. Lining up to go up the Inny River. Lough Ree.

Inny River. Lough Ree.

Inny River. The head of navigation at the "Red Bridge".

As far as we got up the Inny River.

Inny River. Back at the "Red Bridge".

Exiting the Inny River.

Heading out into Lough Ree. Inchturk to the left.

Lough Ree, it starts to blow up. Nuns Island to the left.

Looking back across to the black Buoy protecting Kings Island. Lough Ree.

By the time it really blows up we have the wind up up backside and start romping along as we head up Lough Ree.

Heading up Lough Ree.

We are now heading towards Blackbrink Bay and the Lecarrow Canal. Lough Ree.

Entering the Lecarrow Canal.

The Lecarrow Canal.

Lecarrow Basin.

Lecarrow.

Lecarrow mill.

Lecarrow Basin.

The Tour Continues...

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