29th - 30th April From the Inner Lakes across Lough Ree. From Athlone down the River Shannon to Clonmacnoise.

We stayed by Coosan Lough for three nights and loved the peace there. One small speed boat came through the narrow entrance to the lough at full speed, which was a bit bouncy. Let's be charitable and think that he did not see us tucked in behind a tree. However as he returned at the same speed later, perhaps not!

Our return journey across the south of Lough Ree was much calmer than it had been on the way.

We paused briefly in Athlone for a shopping stop. Shannon enjoyed watching the town as we sailed past.

This swan had built her nest in a very safe spot, on a small island in the river. She will be fine so long as the water does not rise much higher. We have never seen as much water in the Shannon as there is at present. It is well out of its banks, and across the adjoining meadows. We are told that, as a dry spell of weather is forecast, the water is being retained in the Shannon basin by the Ardnacrusha Dam, rather than being allowed to flow away naturally. In this way the water will be available for hydro-electricity later in the summer. This policy naturally annoys the farmers, who would like to be able to use their riverside fields for their stock. The idea of dry weather sounds good though!

Further downstream Clonmacnoise is as impressive as ever. This was a monastic settlement founded by St Ciaran in about AD 545. It grew to be a great monastic city, famed throughout Europe, but suffered attacks by the Vikings during the 8th, 9th and 10th Centuries. It was also attacked by Irish Kings and then by English soldiers in 1552, and the churches were in ruins by the end of the 16th Century. It is well worth a visit.

There were some fishermen at Clonmacnoise when we arrived, and this one was delighted to catch a pike, which weighed in at 21 and a half pounds! It put up a real struggle, and almost caused a problem for a German family on a hire boat. While the fisherman was working the fish in the water, he was on the end of the jetty. The hire boat approached, wanting to moor on that jetty, even though the other side of the mooring was nearly empty. The fisherman firmly waved them away and carried on fighting his pike. Eventually they went round to moor on the other side, but were a bit grumpy about it. Once the pike was out of the water it seemed quite resigned to being held up for a photograph, and to being weighed. You got the impression that it had been there before!

The afternoon light was shining on the ruins of St. John's Castle, which lies quite near to Clonmacnoise monastery. This castle, was built in 1214 by the English Judiciar, John de Gray. The ruins can be seen of the gatehouse, courtyard and keep, which were destroyed by an explosion, many years ago.

29th May - 1st June. Down the River Shannon via Athlone and Clonmacnoise to the Grand Canal

The wind had dropped by Tuesday morning so it was off down the River Shannon to Athlone. This is the first time we have seen a train on the railway bridge here.

Tesco is quite a walk from the river, but the riverside road is good for the trolley!

There seems to be very little topsoil above the rocky base, but there is enough grass to keep the cattle happy.

Three men in a boat. This looks very precarious!

Clonmacnoise is as impressive as ever. There was a cathedral here as long ago as the 14th Century.

St. John's Castle overlooks the mooring at Clonmacnoise. It was destroyed by an explosion, many centuries ago.

The Viking trip boat turns to come into its designated mooring.

It really is a stately galleon!

Sally goes to take a line as he comes in to the jetty. At this point all passengers are being firmly told to stay in their seats until the boat is securely tied up.

Safely in by the jetty. This spot is reserved for the Viking Ship.

Della and Steve have arrived from England recently with Talitha II, and we enjoyed exchanging our experiences of Ireland.

As we cruise south from Clonmacnoise, the Shannon River widens out, and we are a long way from both banks. It is a very big river here.

The topsoil here is much deeper, above the subsoil.

The Shannon Bridge power station is run on peat.

We turn off the River Shannon on to the Grand Canal. It is not very obvious at first that this is the right way to go.

However there is a sign to confirm that this is the correct turning.

19th - 26th September Up River Shannon and across Lough Ree. Lanesborough, Tarmonbarry, and up the Camlin River to Richmond Harbour.

 It was an early start as we have a long day today. We stopped briefly at Clonmacnoise Monastery, which we  last visited in early August, before carrying on up the River Shannon to Athlone.

It is surprising how little topsoil there is over the limestone bedrock here, as the grass is so green.

After Athlone, we sailed on to Lough Ree and spent the night at Hodson Bay Hotel. In the harbour actually, not in the Hotel, but it makes a good backdrop!

The port back door will not open completely, due to the damage, so we sailed today with a bungy holding the door. However we have since removed the wooden seat, until the metal work has been straightened and rewelded.

Another early start on Tuesday up Lough Ree with a super sky ahead of us. By cruising early in the day, we avoided the wind and waves of the afternoon.

In the harbour at Portrunny, we joined several speedboats. Are they shut up for the winter already, or just waiting for the Indian Summer which has been promised?

Wednesday was a really wild day, with strong winds out on the lough, but we still managed a walk along the lough shore.
After two nights at Portrunny, we set off with the sun  rising over the lough. We have been very lucky to find such calm water.

By the time we reached the northern end of Lough Ree the sun had disappeared, although the wind did not get up until later in the day. Lanesborough Power Station, the biggest peatburning power station in Ireland, looms up ahead of us.We are burning smokeless compressed peat logs on our stove at the moment and find them very good.

It is quiet in Ballyleague Harbour. Our friends from the North, Maurice and Janet, arrived soon after us so it was good to see them again.

The barge Knocknagow arrived on Friday evening, with friends of ours in the crew. She left the following morning, with a fresh crew, bound for Lough Derg. 

Back on the River Shannon, we sail up to Tarmonbarry Lock, where the top gates have seen better days.

Do you think that this seat, above the lock, will hold Andy's weight?

It must be annoying for the boats with higher topsides which have to circle above Tarmonbarry Bridge, when we can go underneath it, and do not have to wait for it to be lifted.

We move on upriver on Sunday, as strong winds are forecast for tomorrow, and have an extremely wet trip. Three miles above Tarmonbarry, we turn off on to the Camlin River, and head south again towards Richmond Harbour, and the start of The Royal Canal. Here we are moored below the first lock, on a jetty which is new this year. Incidentally, the strong winds never arrived and the weather on Monday was fine!

The converted barge, 58M, fills Richmond Lock as it goes up into Richmond Harbour. This barge is an excellent conversion, and is very cosy inside.

The lock enters at the far end of Richmond Harbour, which has always been a very popular mooring.We will come up here next year, on our way to the Royal canal.

The Royal Canal leads out at the other end of Richmond Harbour, and can now be cruised all the way to Dublin. The canal was reopened as a through route as recently as last September, having been closed since 1961.

Richmond Harbour is in Clondra village, which has two pubs but no shop. This waterwheel has been retained underneath Richmond Mills, which have been developed into apartments.

Richmond Mills, beside the attractive Clondra bridge, operated as a corn mill from 1771 until 1827, when it was converted into a whiskey distillery, producing 80,000 gallons annually. During the Fr. Matthew Temperance Campaign of 1843, it reverted to milling corn, and later operated as a factory for curing hides.

St Brendan's Church in Clondra village was completed in 1835. The graveyard is quite impressive, with many beautiful crosses, and there are also the ivy covered ruins of a 12th century abbey.

4th - 10th August. Clonmacnoise to Meelick on The River Shannon

As we sailed on down the River Shannon, later in the day, Clonmacnoise Monastery came into view. It is an impressive sight.

Near to the monastery can be seen the ruins of St John's Church, which was built in 1214 by the English Judiciar, John de Gray. The ruins are of the gatehouse, courtyard and keep, which were destroyed by an explosion, many years ago.

On walking round behind the ruins, it seems amazing that this piece has not fallen down completely.

Once again the sunset, seen behind Clonmacnoise moorings, was stunning.

66M, a former Guiness barge, was behind us on this mooring. She makes The Puzzler look small!

Phoenix, was also here for the night. She was once a Victorian Gentleman's launch, being formerly steam driven, and was launched in 1876. Currently she is carrying mini cannons, as she is the starter boat at the annual sailing regattas on Lough Ree last week and Lough Derg this week.

Shannon Princess II passed by. She is a hotel boat, which we saw being repainted in April at Quigley's boatyard, ready for the season. She is an extremely smart boat.

Clonmacnoise was a monastic settlement founded by St Ciaran in about AD 545. It grew to be a great monastic city, famed throughout Europe, but suffered attacks by the Vikings during the 8th, 9th and 10th Centuries. It was also attacked by Irish Kings and then by English soldiers in 1552, and the churches were in ruins by the end of the 16th Century.

There are several 9th century crosses at Clonmacnoise. The Cross of the Scriptures stands in front of the ruins of the Cathedral. 

However, to keep these graceful and well preserved crosses safe and in good order, the originals are now kept under cover, inside the museum.

As we left Clonmacnoise, to continue our way down the Shannon River, the cloud formations were lovely to behold. This part of the river meanders through low lying farmland, with no hills to be seen.

After a shaky start to the year, when high winds would have threatened anything on the roof, we have managed to find some flowers which do not mind being continually wet! The original Busy Lizzies expired soon after being planted, but hopefully these Michaelmas Daisies will survive. The French Marigolds have no problem with the Irish climate. With four pots all tied together, they should not blow away either.

After arriving at Meelick mooring, we had an afternoon mini heat wave, so some of the crew did some sunbathing.

We walked to see Meelick Abbey, which was built in 1414 AD and is the oldest church still in current use in Ireland.

The wires here were full of birds, possibly starlings. They did not seem to be migratory birds, despite the gathering.