Walking

Shannon Erne Waterway

Walking on the Shannon-Erne Waterway

Running between Leitrim Village and just north of Belturbet, the Shannon-Erne Waterway links the two great waterways on the island, the Erne System and the Shannon Navigation.

The Shannon-Erne Waterway was known as the Ballinamore and Ballyconnell Canal and opened in 1860. Re-opened in 1994 after restoration, it is 63km of river, lake and still-water canal. It takes approximately 13 hours to travel and is known as the location where Ireland's 'little people' originate!

While the birds flock, the herons gaze and the water is calm, a walk on the Shannon-Erne waterway is an experience like no other. Choose your preferred walk below:

Trail Name:	Distance:	Location:
Kilarcan to Kilclare	5km	Leitrim
Ballinamore Loop	4.5km	Leitrim
Ballyduff to Aghoo Bridge	8km	Leitrim
Skelan Loop	5.8km	Leitrim
Ballyconnell Loop	5km	Cavan
Turbet Island Loop	1.6km	Cavan

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Arch House B&B

65 Marble Arch Road
Florencecourt
Enniskillen
Co. Fermanagh
BT921DE

Carrick Indoor Shooting

Main Street, Leitrim Village,Co Leitrim

Cassidy Cottages

Carmel Cassidy, Cullighan, Ballyconnell, Co. Cavan.

Daybreak

Main Street, Ballyconnell,  Co Cavan

Kennedys Supermarket

Church St, Ballyconnell, Co. Cavan

Kidz Kindsom and Bowling

Mulvey Centre
Sligo Road
Carrick on Shannon
Co Leitrim

Leitrim Quay

Leitrim Quay,Leitrim Village,Co Leitrim,

River Valley Holidays

Ballyconnell
Co Cavan

Riversdale Barge Holidays

Ballinamore Co. Leitrim Ireland

Slieve Russell Hotel Golf Course

Slieve Russell  Ballyconnell, Co. Cavan, Ireland

Smyth's Siopa Ol Pub & Restaurant

Main Street, Ballinamore, Co. Leitrim.

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General Notices
Length & No of Locks
63km from Leitrim Village to Upper Lough Erne with 16 locks
Opening Hours of Locks
Locks are open daily during boating season (April - October).
The rest of the year they are open during daylight hours.
Due to planned maintenance works between November and March please check Marine Notices prior to departure to ensure the navigation is open.
Navigational Criteria
Length: 24m
Beam: 4.5m
Draft: 1.2m
Air draft: 3.2m over a width of 3.0m
Draft dimensions are given as a guide only and cannot be guaranteed.
Bridges
No information specified
Dry Docks
There is no dry dock provision on the Shannon-Erne Waterway
Electricity & Water
Electricity Shore Power Bollards are available at Aghalane with further facilities planned for both Keshcarrigan and Leitrim Village. They are operated by Smart Card. Smart Card costs 10 units €6.35/£5.50 20 Units €12.70/€11.
How to use Shore Power Bollard.

Fuel Points
There are petrol stations in Leitrim village, Ballinamore and Ballyconnell - all are a short walk from the public moorings.
Inspectorate
The Inspectorate are responsible for enforcing the Bye-laws on the navigations and assist boaters with queries in relation to all aspects of navgiation.
To contact the Inspectorate:
Inspector
Waterways Ireland, The Docks, Athlone, Co Westmeath
Tel no +353 (0)90 649 4232
Assistant Inspector of Navigation
Waterways Ireland, Somerview House,Old Dublin Road,
Carrick-on-Shannon, Co Leitrim
Tel no +353 (0)71 965 0787

Locks

The 16 Locks on the Shannon-Erne Waterway are operated by a smart card system. The operating consoles are located at the side of the lock and the card is inserted into the bottom of it. Diagrammatic instructions are given for the operating of the lock to allow passage. Please ensure the safety of all your passengers when the boat is in the lock.

Opening Hours of Locks

Period	Weekdays	Sundays
Mar 14 - Apr 3	09:00 - 18:30	10:30 - 16:00
Apr 4 - Sep 25	09:00 - 20:30	09:00 - 18:00
Sep 26 - Nov 1	09:00 - 19:30	10:00 - 16:00
Nov 2 - Mar 13	09:00 - 12:30	10:00 - 12:30

Lunch Break 13:00 - 14:00

Due to planned maintenance works between November and March please check Marine Notices prior to departure to ensure the navigation is open.

Waterway Patrollers
Waterway Patrollers are present along the Shannon-Erne Waterway to assist boat users and can be contacted at the following numbers:

Lock 1 Tel no +44 28 6774 8976
Lock 16 Tel no +353 87 2608569
Ballinamore Tel no +353 87 2602478
Ballyconnell Tel no +353 87 2603662
Kilclare area Tel no +353 87 2603663

Maintenance Works
Maintenance Works
Maintenance works on the waterways are, where possible, carried out during the winter. When navigating any waterway between 1 November and 17 March you are advised to contact Waterways Ireland Operations Division or the Inspectorate before making your journey to confirm that the waterway is open.
Marine Notices
Marine Notices are used by Waterways Ireland to inform the public of changes to the usage of the waterways and may be permanent or temporary. Temporary notices are followed by a withdrawal notice to inform customers of the end to the impediment to navigation. They are issued by the Inspector Of Navigation to whom all queries can be directed.
Marine Notices
Permits and Registration
All boats with an engine capacity of more than 15bhp on the Shannon-Erne Waterway must be registered with Waterways Ireland Inspectorate. Registration is free of charge and can be completed through our online registration system here. You will be provided with a registration number which must be displayed in a prominent position on your boat. Boats registered on the Shannon-Erne Waterway do not need to reregister when moving to another waterway.
Public Mooring Time Limits
On the Shannon-Erne Waterway the mooring limit is 5 consecutive days or a total of 7 days in any one month during the period 1 April to 31 October.
Service Blocks
Service blocks are provided by Waterways Ireland at six locations along the Shannon-Erne Waterway: Leitrim village, Keshcarrigan, Ballinamore, Haughton's Shore, Ballyconnell and Aghalane. Facilities provided for waterway users include toilets, showers, pump-outs and laundry facilities. The facilities are operated by smart cards.

Card readers are attached to each service block to enable users to check the number of units remaining on the smart card.
Units per Service
Lock Passage: 1 unit
Pump-outs: 2 units
Showers: 2 units
Chemical Toilets: 2 units
Washing Machines: 5 units
Tumble Dryers: 5 units
Smart Cards Cost
10 unit card €6.35 / £5.50
20 unit card €12.70 / £11.00
Smart Card Retail Locations
Buy Smart Cards Online
Pump-outs
Pump-outs are provided at each of the service blocks to enable the pumping out of sewage safely and cleanly removing the pollution risk to our waterways. These are operated by smart cards.
Slipways
Slipways
A total of 7 slipways are provided along the Waterway at each of the serviced public moorings and at Lock 7
Smart Cards
Smart Cards
Smart cards are used to operate the locks, to access the service blocks and to use the pump-outs along the Waterway. They can be purchased from the Waterway Patrollers and from local outlets as well as from the Waterways Ireland offices. Card readers are attached to each service block to enable users to check the number of units remaining on the smart card.
Units per Service
Lock Passage: 1 unit
Pump-outs: 2 units
Showers: 2 units
Chemical Toilets: 2 units
Washing Machines: 5 units
Tumble Dryers: 5 units
Smart Cards Cost
10 unit card €6.35 / £5.50
20 unit card €12.70 / £11.00
Smart Cards can be bought at the following locations:
Ballinamore Locaboat, Supervalu, Riversdale Barges, Smyth's Gift Shop
Ballyconnell LondisVivo Supermarket, Supervalu, Maguire's Daybreak
Carrick-on-Shannon Waterways Ireland Regional Office, Carrick Craft, Emerald Star, Gartlans Shop, Nauty Bits
Enniskillen Waterways Ireland Headquarters, Tourist Information Centre, Carrick Craft, Tully Bay
Keshcarrigan Donoghue's The Village Shop
Kilclare Sheemore Lounge
Leitrim Village McCormack's Filling Station, Riverside Snacks & Gifts
Waterway Patrollers can be contacted at the following numbers:
Lock 1 Tel no +44 28 6774 8976
Lock 16 Tel no +353 87 2608569
Ballinamore Tel no +353 87 2602478
Ballyconnell Tel no +353 87 2603662
Kilclare area Tel no +353 87 2603663
Smart Card Retail Locations
Buy smart cards online at www.shopwaterwaysireland.org
Speed Limit and your Wash
Speed Limit
5km/h in channel stretches
Your Wash
You are asked to consider the wash of your boat and its effect on others. All engine-powered boats create a wave of water, known as a wash, which flows outwards from the boat as it moves forward. Look behind you frequently to check the effect that your wash is having on other users. You are advised to reduce your speed in narrow channels to prevent bank erosion, damage to reed beds and destruction of birds' 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.
Entering the waterway from the sea
Entry to the Shannon-Erne Waterway from the sea is via the Shannon Estuary.

Posted: 17/02/2020

Marine Notice No 13 of 2020 - Shannon Erne Waterway - Keshcarrigan Amenity Area - Closure Extended until 16 March 2020

Notice Number 13 of 2020

Posted: 17/02/2020

Marine Notice No 14 of 2020 - Shannon-Erne Waterway - Temporary Closure of Navigation between Lock 12 and Lock 13 to Facilitate Installation of Footbridge

Notice Number 14 of 2020

Posted: 14/10/2019

Marine Notice 114 of 2019 - Shannon Navigation & Shannon-Erne Waterway - Winter Mooring Period 2019-2020

Notice Number 114 of 2019

Posted: 06/09/2019

Marine Notice 96 of 2019 - Shannon Erne Waterway - Hedge Trimming / Cutting - Sept 2019 to Feb 2020

Notice Number 96 of 2019

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Walking

Walking on the Shannon-Erne Waterway

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