River Suck Kyaking/Canoing /Fishing and Cruising

[Pat Joe Guinnessy]

I just had a spin from Ballinasloe Marina to Shannonbridge last Saturday and after two atrocious summers I really appreciated the beauty of this asset .It was lovely to see the Upriver canooing and kyaking lessons occuping their usual spot and a shure sign of summer.Just met one cruiser (a Silverline) on it's way to Ballinasloe and quite a few fishermen enjoying the fresh air and the beautiful weather.I will try and attach a few snaps later of the journey.
Picture No 1 Meeting Silverline Cruiser after the Bord Na Mona bridge
          No2  Mycarn Marina and Resturaunt
          No3  Leaving the Lock at Poolboy with the motorway bridge in the foreground

[creaghawk]

lovely pictures pat joe would be interested in seeing a picture of this bord na mona bridge that is supposed to be causing all the problems for cruisers

[Pat Joe Guinnessy]

I will try and attach the bordnamona bridge hereunder.

[Pat Joe Guinnessy]

Sorry but the motorway bridge seems to keep popppin up

[Pat Joe Guinnessy]

2"nd Attempt

[bracjake]

lotta changes in that neck o the woods then '

[Hillcrestonian]

Why is the BNM bridge causing problems for boats ?

Going by Pat Joe's photos it appears to be higher
and have a wider span than the M6 motorway bridge.

Another question.
Is it possible to hire a cruiser for 2/3 days in Ballinasloe or
would you have to go to Portumna, Banagher etc to do so ?

[Pat Joe Guinnessy]

Hill ,the B.n.M bridge snaps were  taken the other day and with the airdraft (distance between surface of water and bottom of bridge)at its present low summer  level and only poses a problem for a minute percentage of boats.The snaps were taken a bit away from the bridge and next time I'll try and snap the clearance as I am  directly underneath .The  width does not affect any craft. Another problem when the water is high is that the main navigation is not visible and one can run aground in the flooded part of a field.I you are at the Ballinasloe lock , you will see  a tape across the downriver  exit indicating the bridge  height above water.
As regards boat hire Locoboats opperated out of the Mycarn marina last year but you will have to go to Banagher(Silverline Carrigraft) or Athlone (Athlone Cruisers) or Portumna (Emerald Star).There are others also if you look up links on Waterways Ireland site or I.W.A.I.s site

[Whack]

C'mon PatJoe, give Hill a loan of the boat, jasus you are nearly as tight as Skinner with the racing bike.