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The Tuesday Night Club on Tour
Irish Summer Tour 2007
4 - Portumna to Cornalour - Shannon Navigation and Grand Canal.
Sunday 24th June 2007
Following on the theme for the entire month and a bit, it rained most of the
night, as well as a lot of the day! At 08:15 we reversed out of Portumna Harbour and headed up stream. There was a stop at Banagher (11:35 - 11:55) for
diesel (95c/l) at Silverline. We eventually started up the Grand at 12:30, locking up Locks No 36 and 35 with a
narrow beam GRP cruiser and was soon in the mooring mayhem that is Shannon Harbour, during a rally weekend. Ian Clarke stopped to talk with Paul Martin owner of Vici May (ex Rhona), which used to moor at Freebody's on the Thames at Hurley.
By 13:20 we were free of the moored boats. This next section had some dodgy
embankments on our April trip, as warned by Allan Wynn, lock keeper at Belmont Double Lock No
33. We noted that Waterways Ireland had repaired the bank, as there was signs of recent machine workings.
Predictably Alan soon popped out at Belmont and whisked us through. That night we were going to stop at Pollagh (17:45 to 18:00), but Gallagher’s Pull Inn pub was not doing food.
While we were waiting Neil noticed a Canalways barge being attended by a bloke in a 4x4, Neil recognised him as being Michael, owner of Canalways, who had the R&D boat "Fisher King", fitted before Earnest. A brief chat ensued. That night we stopped in a nice peaceful spot, above Cornalour Lock No31, well apart from the wandering barking
Labrador.
Leaving Portumna and heading back upstream. River Shannon Navigation.
Looking back at Portumna Bridge. River Shannon Navigation.
Looking back at Portumna Bridge. From this view you can see all of the spans,
Hayes Island in the middle. River Shannon Navigation.
Going back upstream, we are just passing Sally Island on the right. River
Shannon Navigation.
We have just headed up the lesser used channel round Ballymacagan Island (view
back). River Shannon Navigation.
The Council moorings the other side of Ballymacagan Island. River Shannon
Navigation.
Looking back at Ballymacagan Island. River Shannon Navigation.
Marked channel round Inishee Island. River Shannon Navigation.
Banagher Bridge. River Shannon Navigation.
Banagher Bridge. River Shannon Navigation.
We share with this small cruiser as we go up Shannon Harbour Lock No 36. Grand
Canal, Shannon Line.
Many barges present at the festivities in Shannon Harbour. Grand Canal, Shannon
Line.
Cornalour Lock No 31. Grand Canal, Shannon Line.
Our overnight mooring just above Cornalour Lock No 31. Grand Canal, Shannon
Line.
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