By Boat or Car
The Shannon and Erne waterway system consists of over 300 miles of navigable waterways, encompasing over half the length of Ireland. Some excellent hire companies have various types of boats available for hire from a number of locations along the waterway.

The Shannon River and Erne system capture the beauty of Ireland on its long journey as it passes through many towns and villages, by beautiful lakes, picturesque mountains and landscape. The diversity of the entire shannon region and its environs, the historic midlands and numerous attractions can be as easily toured by car.

This section of theirishguide descrbes this area in detail and lists the many accommodations, restaurants, pubs, activities and other attractions in the area. Our description of the area is divided into three sections: Upper, Middle and Lower Shannon. Each of these sections has a page for the major groups or towns in the area.

The River
The River Shannon begins in Lough Allen Co. Leitrim in the northwest of the Republic of Ireland. (A lough is a lake.) The River then flows through Carrick-on-Shannon , along the borders between Co. Roscommon and Co. Leitrim and between Roscommon and Co. Longford before expanding into Lough Ree. Exiting Lough Ree at Athlone , the Shannon continues south forming the borders between Co. Galway and Co. Offaly and between Galway and Co. Tipperary.

The Shannon then becomes the 20 mile long Lough Derg which forms yet another county boundry, this time between counties of Clare and Tipperary. Finally, the mighty Shannon leaves Lough Derg at Killaloe City before entering the Atlantic Ocean.

With the reopening of th Ballinamore -Ballyconnell Canal in 1994, the waterway system was extended into Co. Fermanagh in the North. From the Grand Canal at Shannon Harbour, boaters can also continue onto (or from) Dublin and the River Barrow system in the East.

In it's own way, this historic river system has been as important to Ireland as the Rhine, Nile and Mississippi have been to the countries they pass through.