Length & Locks
Shannon: 215km with 7 locks including Ardnacrusha
River Suck: 16km with 1 lock
Lough Allen Canal: 7km with 3 locks

Opening Hours of Locks & Moveable Bridges
For information on opening hours please download our leaflet at the bottom of this page. It is advisable to contact Waterways Ireland before cruising between 1st November and 31st March.

Shannon Navigational Criteria
Length 29.2m Draft 1.35m
Beam 5.75m Airdraft Variable

For deep-drafted boats contact the Inspector of Navigation. Check locally if in doubt about the Airdraft. Gauge's are being put in place on each of the bridges on the Shannon to facilitate your decision regarding airdraft.

Lough Allen Navigation Criteria
Length 19.5m Beam 4m
Depth 1.2m Height 3m

Ardnacrusha and Sarsfield Lock, Limerick
Ardnacrusha is a double lock managed by the ESB as part of the hydroelectric scheme on the Shannon. Before travelling to Ardnacrusha please contact the lockkeeper (Tel no +353 879970131) to book your passage.

For times of opening and all information regarding Ardnacrusha please contact Tel no +353 879970131.

Water levels and currents between Ardnacrusha and Limerick can vary widely. Always consult the advice notes along the navigation before travelling this stretch of waterway. A separate leaflet "City Cruising" giving details of this section of river is available from Waterways Ireland and Tourist Information Centres locally.

Boat Registration
All boats must be registered with the Inspector of Navigation (see contact details under Waterways Ireland Contacts Page 7). A mutual recognition scheme for registration operates on the Shannon, Erne and Shannon-Erne Waterways.

Locks
The 7 locks on the Shannon are operated by Lockkeepers based at each lock.
Contact Details:

• Battlebridge, Drumleague & Drumshanbo Lough Allen Canal Paddy Joe Carty + 353 86 8127522
• Clarendon Lock, Knockvicar Padraig Lynch +353 71 9667011
• Albert Lock, Jamestown Canal Michael Bourke +353 71 9637715
• Rooskey Lock Tony Hudson +353 71 9638018
• Tarmonbarry Lock Liam Cox +353 87 9222020
• Clondra & Richmond Harbour Locks Liam Cox +353 87 9222020
• Athlone Lock Tim Connolly +353 90 6492026
• Poolboy Lock, River Suck David Coyne +353 90 9644938
• Victoria Lock, Meelick Stephen Mc Garry +353 509 51359
• Portumna Bridge Christopher Houlihan +353 90 9741011
• Sarsfield Lock Dick Sparling, Shannon Rowing Club +353 87 7972998

Services Blocks
Along the Shannon River service blocks are provided by the Local Authorities and by Waterways Ireland. The service blocks operated by Waterways Ireland are marked (*)

North Shannon:
Leitrim(*), Drumshanbo, Lough Allen (*), Dromod, Ballyleague

South Shannon:
Shannonbridge, Banagher, Portumna, Dromineer, Athlone, Ballinasloe, River Suck (*)

Pump-outs
Pump-outs are provided to enable the pumping out of sewage safely and cleanly removing the pollution risk to our waterways. They can be found at:

North Shannon:
Leitrim , Drumshanbo, Lough Allen, Carrick on Shannon, Dromod, Ballyleague

South Shannon:
Athlone, Shannonbridge, Banagher, Portumna, Mountshannon, Dromineer, Ballina, Killaloe

Slipways

North Shannon:
Carrick on Shannon, Drumsna, Kilglass, Dromod, Lanesborough, Hodson Bay, Lough Ree

South Shannon:
North of Athlone Town, Shannonbridge, Banagher, Meelick Quay, Terryglass, Kilgarvan, Rossmore, Dromineer, Garrykennedy, Mountshannon

Speed Limit
6km/h within 200m of a bridge or jetty, 100m of a lock, in a canal or harbour and when passing within 100m of a moored vessel. Ensure your wash and wake does not cause nuisance to other waterway users, especially in confined waters or channels. Reduce speed where necessary to prevent bank erosion, damage to reed beds and destruction of bird's nests among reed and bank habitats. Slow down where boats are moored, when approaching quays, jetties or locks or where water activities are taking place.

Mooring Time Limits
A vessel or boat shall not berth at the same harbour, lay-by, wharf, quay, pier or other landing-place for more than five consecutive days or more than a total of 7 days in any one month without permission.

Note:
Maintenance works on the system are, whenever possible, carried out during the winter. It is therefore advisable during the winter months to contact Waterways Ireland before making your journey to confirm that the section of waterway that you wish to navigate is open.

Waterways Ireland Contacts

Waterways Ireland

info@waterwaysireland.org