TNC On Tour Summer 2007 Page 26

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The Tuesday Night Club on Tour

Irish Summer Tour 2007

26 - Richmond Harbour to Grange - Royal Canal, Camlin River, Rinn River, Shannon Navigation, Kilglass Lough, Mountain River and Grange Lough.

Monday 16th July 2007

The lock keeper had been pre-booked with the young lad, the night before. Dermot was there just after 09:00 and we locked down onto the Camlin River at 09:20. Once under the new N5 Bridge there were no man made features on the river until we exited up onto the Shannon at 10:15. We found the Camlin River quite deep, poled at 7-9 feet. The were a few sharp bends, the worse being where the Camlin splits into the two navigable arms, that form the navigation by-passing Tarmnonbarry.
A little above the top exit of the Camlin River the Shannon passes through Lough Forbes. At the top right hand (north) corner of the Lough the Rinn River exits into the Shannon. We spotted some home made markers marking the entrance, so went to investigate (10:40). It was plain sailing up to the N4 Road Cloonart Bridge, as just before this, off to the left (north west) was the Rinn River Marina. The arched Cloonart Bridge held a problem for craft with more air draught than a narrowboat, for it had been extended with low straight girders.
Earnest passed under with inches to spare, so we crept up the river, with Neil doing much depth sounding with the pole. An average of around 5ft was found after the bridge, BUT there were some rocks just above the bridge, only some 2.5 - 3 feet below. Up we went, past the fast flowing section below the railway bridge, then under the bridge. After this we spotted a potential winding point, for a 60ft barge, utilising a side drain. As we approached Johnson's Bridge the the river became hemmed in with trees and much faster flowing, with the depth going down to 3.5 - 4 foot.
We eventually gave up at 12:05, due to a fallen tree making it impossible to pass, especially if we had to get back in reverse! So followed the long astern passage, back to the railway bridge. Neil just used the current, with occasional bursts of forward, to position the bow. Quite a few people came out of a farm to witness the spectacle. The wind above the railway bridge was without incident, but required a lot of power to get Earnest's stern round, with the bow planted up the side drain (12:40). After this it was a quick assent, Neil only checking the speed before the N5 Bridge (13:00). While we passed the marina a couple of people asked how we got on, thwarted from further passage up to Lough Rinn, by a fallen tree.
Eventually at 13:10 we re-joined the Shannon. A provisioning stop ensued at Roosky Centra supermarket, 14:35 - 14:45, surely Martin's quickest ever! After Roosky we passed up into Lough Bofin, with Dromod Harbour to the east corner, then through the tight markered course into Lough Boderg. We spotted the markers on the west bank leading to Carnadoe (15:45). The markered course took us between some islands at the edge of Lough Boderg, then through the river sized exit of Lough Carnadoe.
Just before Carnadoe Bridge, is Carnadoe Quay, amazingly this popular spot had quite a bit of space free. One through the bridge there are many side drains, that have been turned into private harbours. Carnadoe Lough is so filled with reeds, it seems more like a river course, which of course it is, taking the waters of Mountain River and Grange River into the Shannon. At the west end of Carnadoe Lough there are two markered courses out, the top one being to Grange and the bottom to the enlarged Carrigeen Cut to Mountain River or Kilglass.
We took the bottom route at 16:20, then took the north arm of Kilglass Lough, which fizzles out and becomes the Mountain River. This is navigable for about half a mile to a junction with a private marina, where we winded at 18:55. It was then back down to the lower arm of Kilglass Lough, where we winded in front of the full-up Kilglass pontoon moorings at 17:30. Finally we were back at the entrance to Carrigeen Cut at 18:00 and took the upper way out of Carnadoe Lough. Throughout our time in Carnadoe, there had been very threatening thunder clouds milling about in the distance, with some thunder, but we escaped the rain.
Finally at 18:50 we moored up at Grange, having taken the marked channel at the end of Grange Lough. The level was up, due to much water flowing out of Grange River. The old moorings in the river course, up to the bridge were under water so we just managed to squeeze onto the narrow grass promontory between the river and the moorings for the Silver Eel pub. Once we arrived, so did the thundery showers, with some magnificent double and even triple rainbows. That night we ate in with a Neil spag bol, but did investigate the pub, which in fact was doing food.

Leaving Royal Canal Lock No46, exit from Richmond Harbour. Camlin River.

The N5 Bridge. Camlin River.

Looking back at the N5 Bridge. Camlin River.

Camlin River.

Camlin River. The Fallen River enters from the right.

Camlin River.

Camlin River. The un-navigable section enters from our right.

Camlin River.

Camlin River. Top entrance from the River Shannon.

We have just started up Rinn River, which enters the top of Lough Forbes on the Shannon Navigation.

Rinn River Marina.

Rinn River. The extended N4 Cloonart Road Bridge.

Rinn River. N4 Cloonart Road Bridge.

Rinn River. N4 Road Bridge.

Rinn River. Above the N4 Road Bridge we found some large boulders in the main river channel.

Rinn River. We have just passed under the Sligo Line Railway Bridge.

Rinn River. We are stopped by fallen trees, just below Johnson's Bridge.

Rinn River. It is a long way back astern!

Rinn River. Railway Bridge, we managed to wind in using a side drain a short distance above this bridge.

Rinn River. Looking back at the Railway Bridge. This area is shallow (3.5ft) and fast flowing.

Rinn River. Back to the N4 Road Cloonart Bridge.

Rinn River. N4 Road Bridge.

Rinn River. Back to Rinn River Marina. The locals ask how we got on.

We have just left the Shannon Navigation as it passes through Lough Boderg and have headed up to Carnadoe.

Heading up to Carnadoe.

Carnadoe Quay and Bridge.

Looking back at Carnadoe Bridge. Carnadoe Lough.

Numerous private moorings up side drains. Carnadoe Lough.

Carnadoe Lough.

Carnadoe Lough. The entrance to Carrigeen Cut.

Carrigeen Cut.

Exiting Carrigeen Cut into Kilglass Lough.

Kilglass Lough.

Kilglass Lough. Heading up Mountain River.

Mountain River.

Winding in the entrance to the private marina. Mountain River.

Looking further up Mountain River.

Mountain River. Junction with boat yard.

Exiting Mountain River.

We now head up Kilglass Lough to Kilglass moorings.

Kilglass Lough.

Kilglass moorings. Kilglass Lough.

Coming back down Kilglass Lough.

Looking back, we have just entered the channel to Grange Lough. The markers opposite mark the entrance to Carrigeen Cut.

Grange Lough.

Grange.

Grange River enters under Grange Bridge.

Grange. The moorings in Grange River were under water.

Grange.

The Silver Eel pub at Grange is being extended.

Grange.

Grange. The level was up, wellies were the order of the day.

Grange. An evening of incredible rainbows.

The Tour Continues...

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