SHANNON PRINCESS II - All inclusive Irish luxury barge cruise vacation holidays aboard the Shannon Princess cruising the Lower Shannon River in Ireland- Paradise Connections

SHANNON PRINCESS II

- Standard Itinerary -

ATHLONE TO KILLALOE

Irish luxury barge vacation river cruises
The Lower Shannon river, Ireland

Guests shall be met at 3.00pm at Dublin city centre hotel and transferred by coach to the Shannon Princess at Quigley’s Marina. Your Captain and his crew welcome you onboard the delightful Shannon Princess with Champagne, Black Velvets or Irish Coffees! Dinner on board.

This Morning we begin our cruise around the beautiful “Inner Lakes” of Lough Ree and then continue north to Lough Ree as we explore some of the 365 islands on the lake. We then circle back to the River and onto our mooring in Athlone Town.

After lunch we depart by bus to the “Corlea Trackway Visitor Centre”. The centre interprets an Iron Age bog road which was built in the year 148 BC across the Boglands close to the River Shannon. The oak road is the largest of its kind to have been uncovered in Europe and was excavated over the years by Professor Barry Raferty of University College Dublin. Dinner on board.

The Shannon Princess descends through Athlone Lock and heads south through Europe’s richest example of “Callow” landscape. Countryside little changed in over 1000 years. This is one of Ireland’s premier Wildfowl Reserves. We moor at Clonmacnoise ruins, a famed 6th.Century University and early Christian settlement. After a visit to the interpretive centre we lunch onboard enroute to Shannon Bridge arriving mid-afternoon to this typical Irish riverside town.

After lunch we depart by bus to “Birr Castle” Irelands Historical Science Centre and home of the Oldest Telescope in the World, with its glorious landscaped gardens dating from 17th. Century and family seat of the Earls of Ross. Dinner on board.

We travel a very pretty stretch of the Shannon with an ever-changing landscape slipping by. Travelling down through Meelick lock, pausing as Portumna swing bridge is opened to allow the Shannon Princess passage onto idyllic Lough Derg. We moor at Terryglass Harbour. Lunch at the Derg Inn in the Village. Time to explore this charming Hamlet before an afternoon excursion to “Leap Castle”, reputed to be Ireland’s most haunted house. You will be greeted by Sean Ryan and his family who will invite you in to their unusual home and Sean, a renowned musician, will tell you the fascinating history of the castle and the part it played in founding the American Constitution. Sean will gladly play a few tunes with possibly the added bonus of being joined by his talented young daughter who will demonstrate her amazing dancing skills. Dinner on board.

A full day excursion to Galway City – A lively University City and cultural centre for Irish speaking regions in Western Ireland. Visit Galway crystal and a profusion of craft and linen shops. Lunch at a Traditional Guinness & Oyster pub. Return to Shannon Princess and set sail through the especially beautiful Lough Derg passing Forrest Park and ancient mountains as we set our course for Mountshannon – a lovely lakeside village perched above the Lough. Dinner on board.

This morning we set sail through south Lough Derg and her many Islands rejoining the River Shannon and entering Killaloe, once home to the court of the greatest High King of Ireland, Brian Boru. We moor on the Tipperary side of this elegant little town, with plenty of time for you to visit the town. After lunch onboard, we set off by bus on our excursion to a unique project set in the grounds of Graggaunowen Castle, designed to bring Bronze Age & Celtic culture to life. Also on display is a reconstructed hide boat used by Irish Monks to sail to North America in the 5th. Century. Dinner on board.

After a leisurely breakfast, we depart the Shannon Princess and transfer by coach to the Aberdeen Lodge.

NOTE: On alternate weeks the cruise is in the reverse direction. Itineraries are subject to change.