The Shannon and the Shannon–Erne by hire cruiser.
Ireland's longest river, its big loughs and the canal link to Lough Erne. Where to hire, one-way trips, who works the locks, and the rules on the loughs. Every figure is linked to its source.
- Hire bases
- 6
- from 3 firms
- On Mooch
- 5
- with a trip page
- Boats sleep
- up to 12
- largest boat listed
- Week, 4-berth
- —
- no firm here publishes one
Waterways Ireland is closing the Shannon–Erne Waterway between Lock 8 and Lock 10 from 2 November 2026 for about three months, with further works at Lock 1 from 16 November. There's no through route between Leitrim and Lough Erne until they finish. Hire boats on the Shannon run from March to October. Source
Waterways Ireland closed Roosky Bridge on the Shannon on 27 October 2026 until further notice, after a mechanical fault. Check before travelling between Carrick-on-Shannon and Lough Ree. Source
At a glance
- Length
- 301 km · source
- Locks
- 27 · source
- Lock work
- Light (0.1 locks per mile)
- Hire bases
- 6
- Made up of
- The Shannon Navigation (238 km, 11 locks) and the Shannon–Erne Waterway (63 km, 16 locks) · source
- Shannon locks
- Worked by lock keepers; €1.50 or 2 Smart Card units each · source
- Shannon–Erne locks
- You work them with a Waterways Ireland Smart Card · source
- Licence
- None needed; hirers must be 18 or over · source
- Hire season
- March to October · source
Good for
- Lock keepers work every lock on the Shannon itself
- One-way hires between Carrick-on-Shannon and Portumna, and between Banagher and Carrick
- Lough Derg is lock-free from Portumna to Killaloe
- The Shannon–Erne links to Lough Erne in Northern Ireland
Watch out for
- The big loughs can be rough: hire firms advise waiting out strong wind
- The Shannon–Erne is closed between Locks 8 and 10 from November 2026 for about three months
- Hire boats run March to October only
- Some Le Boat models aren't allowed on the Shannon–Erne or the Lough Allen Canal
Lock work is locks per mile across the whole canal: under 0.6 light, under 1 moderate, 1 or more heavy.
The short answer
Le Boat's 3-night return from Portumna to Killaloe is 80 km with no locks, about 10 hours of cruising.
Le Boat's 3-night return is 104 km and 6 locks, about 14 hours, with keepers working the locks.
Le Boat puts it at 5 locks and about 19 hours of cruising, past Athlone and Clonmacnoise to the top of Lough Derg.
The route, north to south
From Lough Erne in County Fermanagh, the Shannon–Erne Waterway climbs to a summit at Lough Scur and drops to the Shannon at Leitrim. The river then runs south through Lough Ree and Athlone to Lough Derg, where hire boats turn at Killaloe.
- 1
Enniskillen and Lough Erne
The largest town in County Fermanagh. Portora Lock, the only lock on the Erne, is normally left open.
- 2
Belturbet
The southern end of the Erne system, and the turning point of Le Boat's 7-night trip from Carrick via the Shannon–Erne.
- 3
Ballyconnell and Ballinamore
Towns on the river section of the Shannon–Erne.
- 4
Lough Scur
The waterway's summit, where the navigation markers change from the Shannon system to the Erne system.
- 5
Leitrim
The Shannon end of the Shannon–Erne, an hour from Carrick-on-Shannon by Le Boat's timings.
- 6
Carrick-on-Shannon
The largest town in County Leitrim, with bases for Le Boat and Carrick Craft.
- 7
Dromod and Roosky
Dromod is about two hours south of Carrick. Roosky has a large boating harbour; its bridge has been closed since 27 October 2026.
- 8
Lanesborough and Lough Ree
At the head of Lough Ree, the Shannon's second-largest lake. Part of the lough is a Defence Forces firing range that boats must keep out of.
- 9
Athlone
The largest town on the Shannon, with a lock in the centre. Moorings cost €15 a night by Le Boat's figures.
- 10
Clonmacnoise
A monastic site founded in 545 AD, with two round towers and high crosses.
- 11
Shannonbridge and Banagher
Where the River Suck joins. Carrick Craft and Silver Line hire from Banagher.
- 12
Portumna
Le Boat's base at the head of Lough Derg. The swing bridge opens at set times only.
- 13
Lough Derg
The largest lake on the Shannon, 24 miles from Portumna to Killaloe by Silver Line's figures, with no locks.
- 14
Killaloe
At the foot of Lough Derg, the limit of navigation for hire boats.
Sources: Wikipedia: Shannon–Erne Waterway, Waterways Ireland, Erne, Le Boat, Shannon, Carrick Craft, routes, Silver Line Cruisers, Waterways Ireland Special Marine Notice 1/2026, Wikipedia: River Shannon
Published routes
Le Boat's and Carrick Craft's published trips. Hours are cruising time. Trips on the Shannon–Erne are greyed out while it's closed.
| Round trip | Distance | Locks | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Le Boat, Portumna to Killaloe and back (3 nights)Le Boat, Shannon | 80 km | 0 | 10 |
| Le Boat, Carrick to Lanesborough and back (3 nights)Le Boat, Shannon | 104 km | 6 | 14 |
| Le Boat, Portumna to Athlone and back (4 nights)Le Boat, Shannon | 126 km | 4 | 17 |
| Le Boat, Carrick to Athlone and back (7 nights)Le Boat, Shannon | 200 km | 6 | 22 |
| Le Boat, Carrick to Portumna, one way (7 nights)Le Boat, Shannon | — | 5 | 19 |
| Carrick Craft, Banagher to Carrick, one way (7 nights)Carrick Craft, routes | 140 km | — | 20 |
| Le Boat, Carrick to Belturbet via the Shannon–Erne and back (7 nights)(not running until the closure lifts)Le Boat, Shannon | 150 km | 34 | 29 |
| Le Boat, Carrick to Enniskillen and back (10 nights)(not running until the closure lifts)Le Boat, Shannon | 220 km | 34 | 36 |
Source: Le Boat, Shannon
When to go
When the hire firms here run, when their prices peak, and when the canal shuts for winter works. Each row is from the firm's or the navigation authority's own page.
Paler blocks cover part of the month.
Where to hire
6 hire bases from 3 firms, side by side. Filter by what matters to you; each row comes from the firm's own pages, read 4–7 November 2026. For fleet sizes and first-timer help, see each firm in narrowboat hire, compared.
Showing 6 of 6 bases
| Firm and base | Sleeps | Dogs | Fuel included | Short breaks | Week, 4-berth | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Le Boat Carrick-on-Shannon On the upper Shannon, an hour from the Shannon–Erne at Leitrim. One-way trips to Portumna. | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not published | Website |
Le Boat Portumna At the head of Lough Derg. | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not published | Website |
Carrick Craft Carrick-on-Shannon On the upper Shannon. Fuel used is charged on return, typically €150–€300 a week; 3-night minimum. | 2–12 | Welcome on most boats, €100 per pet; six boat models are pet-free (Carrick Craft FAQs, 8 Nov 2026) | No | Yes | Not published | See it on Mooch |
Carrick Craft Banagher On the lower Shannon, about three hours north of Portumna. One-way trips to Carrick. | 2–12 | Welcome on most boats, €100 per pet; six boat models are pet-free (Carrick Craft FAQs, 8 Nov 2026) | No | Yes | Not published | See it on Mooch |
Carrick Craft Bellanaleck, Lough Erne On Lough Erne in County Fermanagh, near Enniskillen. | 2–12 | Welcome on most boats, €100 per pet; six boat models are pet-free (Carrick Craft FAQs, 8 Nov 2026) | No | Yes | Not published | See it on Mooch |
Silverline Cruisers Banagher On the lower Shannon. A family business for more than 50 years. Boats leave with a full tank of HVO; 3-night minimum. | 2–12 | Not permitted on board (Silverline guide, 8 Nov 2026) | Not stated | Yes | Not published | See it on Mooch |
Worth knowing before you go
Life jackets at every lock
Since 1 April 2026 everyone in a lock chamber or on a lock quay at Waterways Ireland locks must wear one. Source
Smart Card for the Shannon–Erne
Its 16 locks are worked by the crew at a console beside each lock, using a Waterways Ireland Smart Card. Locaboat says allow about 15 minutes each. Source
Wait out the wind on the loughs
Locaboat's guide says to wait for strong wind to drop before crossing the larger lakes, and allow at least two hours for Lough Ree. Source
Keep out of the Lough Ree firing range
The Defence Forces range is marked by yellow 'X' buoys reading Danger, and boats may not enter it. Source
Hartley Bridge works
Until September 2027, boats between Carrick-on-Shannon and Leitrim use the centre arch only, and boats coming down from Leitrim have priority. Source
Mooring
Public harbours allow up to 5 consecutive days. Most public moorings are free; Athlone charges. Source
Check your boat can go everywhere
Some Le Boat models can't use the Lough Allen Canal or the Shannon–Erne, so check before booking a route that includes them. Source
Questions
Do you need a licence to hire a boat on the Shannon?
No. Carrick Craft says there's no licence requirement for cruising in Ireland and Northern Ireland, and anyone 18 or over can hire a cruiser.
Who works the locks on the Shannon?
Lock keepers work the Shannon's locks; you pay €1.50 or 2 Smart Card units per lock. On the Shannon–Erne Waterway you work the 16 locks yourself with a Waterways Ireland Smart Card.
Can you do a one-way trip on the Shannon?
Yes. Le Boat runs one-way trips between Carrick-on-Shannon and Portumna, and Carrick Craft between Banagher and Carrick-on-Shannon.
When can you hire a boat on the Shannon?
Hire firms run from March to October.
Is the Shannon–Erne Waterway open?
Not this winter. Waterways Ireland is closing it between Locks 8 and 10 from 2 November 2026 for about three months, with works at Lock 1 from 16 November.
More canal guides
How this was put together
Figures come from the Canal & River Trust, the hire firms' own pages and Wikipedia, read on 4 November 2026, and each is linked where it's used. Lock hours and closures change, so check Waterways Ireland's Shannon boater information before you travel. Spotted something wrong? Email hello@moochtravel.com.