Date: Sun, 20 May 2001 19:51:43 +0100 From: Terry Waldron Reply-To: Canals To: Canals Subject: Trip Report - Ireland Part 2 [ The following text is in the "iso-8859-1" character set. ] [ Your display is set for the "US-ASCII" character set. ] [ Some characters may be displayed incorrectly. ] 13 May Yet another beautiful morning. Set off and stopped at Ballinamore, moored in small basin close to start of town. The town, in the main, is one long street and has all the shops you would need along with numerous pubs, 19 we are told but did not count. Set off out of the basin and a 270 degree turn, not easy as it is narrow and wind and flow are against me, then into another lock and heading towards Leitrim. After a few locks we come to 3 together where the map indicates you have to ensure water levels are correct before operating the locks, we could not see any water level indicators so proceeded to go through. There is a pub at the lock but it appeared to be shut. The canal remains much the same running through the countryside. A few more locks, widely spread apart and we are at Leitrim, we cannot see much space to moor other than one slot between two boats and onto grass bank, we moor on pins but all the other boats are tied on long ropes to the fence and telegraph poles. To walk into the village we have to step over numerous mooring ropes. There are pontoon moorings with water and pump out points, a shower block and a rubbish point. After the bridge there is a wall which you can moor to but there are no rings or bollards, all boats seem to have very long mooring lines so they can tie up to any available solid point. The village is fairly small with a Mace shop and about 5 pubs and a couple of restaurants. 14 May Rained hard overnight but now early morning sun and reasonably hot, stopped at Carrick on Shannon and went for a look round. Bought Leitrim crystal, a fishing rod and bait and topped up with food, also managed a couple pints of Guiness. Set off again aiming for Roosky. Decided to turn off and stop at Jamestown for a walk and take water. Dave and I went for a walk while Sue and Brenda kept an eye on water, very slow fill, we find two pubs of which one is open, so have another two pints of Guiness, a very fiendly local cliental in the pub. Walk back to find Sue and Brenda locking up, have now d ecided that we will stop here for the night so all four of us go to the pub, after another two pints of Guiness we go back to Derrineel for dinner. Need to make some phone calls, Sue had tried to arrange with Vodafone for her to have 'roaming' switched on, but it does not seem to work. Now raining and only one phone box so have another Guinness while Dave making calls, try to ring home but only getting the answer phone. We are now quite merry so back to boat and retire for the night. 15 May Sue did not get much sleep as I snored rather noisily all night, must be due to an overdose of the dark nectar. Raining when we set off. Set off south wards and moored Dromond, went to get a paper, saw sign for Cavan and Leitrim Railway which gave the impression it may be steam. Walked to station and could see the standard gauge line that goes from Dublin to Sligo, could also see narrow gauge track so went to investigate. Station open so went onto platform and found a 1955 AEC bus converted for rail, a small diesel loco, a coach and a diesel workers transport. A lady came out and told us they were just putting the steam loco in the shed, had a quick look loco built 1916 originally but not used on Ireland railways. Set off again backtracking and finally mooring in Carrick. In one of the loughs we spotted 6 herons and a cormorant all fishing together in a space of about 15 yards - I always thought that herons were territorial birds and did not congregate together. Spent a while fishing, caught a few roach in the basin we were moored in. Ate out in the Chineese Restaurant, came well recommended from many people we have met, had a good meal and very reasonably priced as well. 16 May A wet start to the day, fished for a while but nothing caught. Set off and stopped at Cootehall, Sue and Brenda went for a walk, I fished and caught 10 fish in as many minutes, 3 nice roach of about 8oz each, other roach and perch. Stopped again Knockvicar, a very small village. Turned backdown the Boyle, raining hard and very windy. 1 to 2 foot waves in Lough Drumharlow and waves breaking on rocks on one side of the lough. Meeting waves beam on, steering not difficult but needing some wheel on to kep on the right track. Leitrim full, unless we wanted to moor on the bank again so moored after Killarcan lock. Caught a couple of small bream. 17 May A very bright morning, a bird we have not seen before sat on the lockside, after checking our books we find it tobe a Northern Wheatear. Fishing for a while but nothing caught. Onwards through the locks and stopped Kilclare, bought bread and had a pint (Guiness of course - I have by now got the taste for it). Wind very strong and weather very changeable. Wind very strong across the loughs as yesterday. Moored Keshcarrigan, had a pint and were told it is Irish Country Music night, could not stay, maybe next time. Had great difficulty getting off the mooring, a German boater came across to help, had to swing on the bow and reverse out then turn sharply round. As we turned north the wind is now blowing into us. Coming up to Ballinamore Golf Course met the trip boat, two young ladies wanted to show me parts of their anatomy, gave them a wave. Stopped Ballinamore and bought gas bottle at local garage. Set off again and finally moored Riversdale lock. 18 May Had breakfast and cleaned inside the boat and packed. Took Derrineel into the boatyard ready for it to be turned round for the next occupants. Drove to Limerick following the waterways down and stopping at a few of the towns on the way. Ate in the Texas Steakout, very good service and excellent food. 19 May Drove to Cork via Blarney (did not go to the castle to see the stone) visited the woolen mills and bought lace, crystal and pottery. Onto Cork and our plane back to Plymouth. Waterways Maps needed for the area Athlone to Roosky, Lough Key & Lough Allen ISBN 1-873489-60-9 Published by The Office of Public Works Upper Lough Erne Lower Lough Erne Published by The Department of Agriculture for NI Killoe to Athlone ISBN 1-873489-60-9 Published by the Office of Public Works Shannon & Erne Waterway Publisher not known but Waterway offices are in Ballinamore. ---