Ireland boating holidays and canal cruises

Ireland's two great river systems, the Shannon and the Erne, have been joined again by the re-construction and re-opening of the old Ballinamore-Ballyconnell Canal. The waterway leaves the Shannon at Leitrim Village, just upstream of Carrick on Shannon, and enters Upper Lough Erne in County Fermanagh.

It has opened up for exploration and enjoyment an undiscovered region of great natural beauty, a wide variety of cruising waters, scenery, wildlife and activity.

The waterway is unique in that it includes stretches of still-water canal, canalised river and a series of scenic lakes. An easy pace of life awaits as you discover the wide variety of cruising waters, scenery, wildlife and activities.

The waterway takes you into small friendly towns, villages and pubs where you can experience the warmth and hospitality of the local people.

The waterway itself is now a magnificent and sensitive restoration of the former canal. The 63km long canal has 16 locks, electronically operated by "smart card", built and then faced with the original 19th Century hand cut stone work.

From Ballinamore you head north on the Shannon-Erne Waterway to reach the Erne, the second great Irish river system, with two great Loughs leading north into Northern Ireland through Enniskillen to Belleek.

From Ballinamore reach Ballyconnell and Belturbet, both with a strong folk tradition, then onwards into County Fermanagh, a land of lakes, a paradise for birdspotters, botanists and fisherman, and your introduction to Northern Ireland.

Upper Lough Erne is filled with hundreds of islands, each one worth exploring and offering perfect lunchtime picnic stops. Lush green rolling meadowlands give way to craggy uplands with spectacular cliffs that then lead on to uninterrupted open moorland.