PLEASURE CRUISING ON THE RIVER BARROW

The Barrow River and the Barrow line represent two distinct cruising experiences, each with its own character and both guaranteed to enchant and delight you and your cruising companions.

THE BARROW RIVER

The first section explores the journey downstream, from Athy to St. Mullins, and describes the marvelous experience of cruising on the River Barrow, with all its weirs, locks and great variety of scenery. Cruising enthusiasts who have sampled other waterways are now turning to the River Barrow to meet the challenge of this exciting river. They are finding a water wonderland, which matches the great inland waterways of Europe for the sheer beauty of the valley it has carved.

THE BARROW LINE

The second section, illustrates the leisurely journey along the Barrow Line of the Grand Canal from Lowtown to Athy, where it joins the river navigation.

SISTER RIVERS

The Barrow, Nore and Suir are sister rivers which spill from the Slieve Bloom and the Devil's Bit mountains in the heart of Ireland. Between them they forge beautiful and historic river valleys and are part of a rich heritage in Ireland's South-East and Midlands East tourist regions. The most developed navigation of the three is on the Barrow.

THE BARROW NAVIGATION

The Barrow is Ireland's second largest river. It runs for 192 km from source to sea and is navigable for hire cruisers from Athy to St. Mullins, some 68 km. There are 23 locks, including the sea lock at St. Mullins. The Barrow Line of the Grand Canal is 46 km long and forms the second part of the navigation carrying 9 locks between Lowtown and the junction of the Barrow at Athy. Running westwards and eastwards from Lowtown is the main line of the Grand Canal, which can be cruised to Shannon and Dublin respectively providing 300 km of pleasure waterway.

THE CRAFT

The craft are modern, easy to operate, fitted to the highest standard and provide the ultimate in luxury cruising. Central heating, spacious sleeping accommodation, hot water, shower, full washing and toilet facilities and a fully equipped galley are provided on all craft. Detailed waterway guides, navigation maps and a full inventory of equipment are provided. Each operator offers you the facility of ordering your own provisions in advance of your arrival. Just ask for a grocery list. A thorough briefing on your arrival will ensure that you are comfortable with the craft from the moment you cast off. A full back up service, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week is provided by the boat hire operators. We guarantee that the Barrow will provide your scrapbook with unforgettable images of a great holiday.

FACILITIES EN ROUTE

The cruiser bases provide diesel, water and toilets at the mooring facility, while each population centre provides a post office, pharmacy and telephones as well as a full range of provisions.

The Barrow hinterland is imbued with a riverside culture which is steeped in tradition, a people who are warm and welcoming and a plethora of pubs and restaurants where the best of Irish food, entertainment and hospitality can be enjoyed. Cruising the River Barrow is a unique experience due to its unspoilt, uncommercialized and uncrowded waters. There are no long queues passing through locks and no problems getting space at quaysides. The waters of the Barrow are suitable for swimmers, while the tow path and woodlands offer a superb walking environment. Cyclists and walkers can explore the historic castles and ruins and the scenic countryside on the quiet roads each side of the river.

HISTORY OF THE BARROW

Over 300 years before the Christian era, legend has it that a great battle took place to capture the fort of Dinn Righ, a large mound near Leighlinbridge. The presence of such formidable defensive structure indicates the importance of the Barrow as a strategic military highway as well as a highway for commerce since earliest times. Evidence of early Christian and later medieval church establishments can be seen all along the river, notably at or near St. Mullins, Old Leighlin, Carlow, Sleaty, Nurney and Monasterevean.

The Barrow was a significant commercial canalised waterway right up to the 1950's with important river ports at Athy, Carlow, Graignamanagh and New Ross. Barges carried consignments of malting barley to Dublin as raw material for the famous Guinness stout, which was transported back downstream in its finished state. Later, beet-filled barges supplied Ireland's first sugar factory at Carlow. The Barrow is now completely given over to pleasure - your pleasure. Bon Voyage!

BARROW WILDLIFE

The unspoiled banks of the Barrow, the open fields and woods, attract a huge variety of birds and waterfowl. Mallard and moorhen can be seen fussing about in the quieter stretches. Kingfishers flit above the water, while herons wait patiently for dinner to swim within striking distance. Farmlands harbour lapwing, thrush, rook, hooded crow, pheasant and woodpigeon. Other species commonly seen in woodland areas include the little grebe, woodcock, the shy sparrowhawk, kestrel, whitethroat, goldcrest, spotted flycather, long-tail tit, chiffchaff and many, many more. The Barrow is a nature wonderland, providing many hours of enjoyment for visitors cruising its waters. Electric blue and emerald green damsel flies share the riverside flora with red admirals, painted ladies, peacocks and common blue butterflies.

THE BARROW RIVER

Our exploration takes you downstream from Athy on a journey of enchantment along the Barrow, a relatively undiscovered gem among the great inland pleasure cruising waterways of Ireland. Here is a river where the waters and backwaters soothe the soul and renew the spirit. Ireland's second longest navigable river, the Barrow, is noted for the beauty and variety of its landscape, the fascination of its historic hinterland and the picturesque charm of its riverside towns.

The marriage of the River Barrow with the Barrow line of the Grand Canal takes place in the Heritage Town of Athy. Great silos and malt houses surround the canal harbour, where once warehouses were filled with grain and malt waiting to be transported to Dublin by commercial barge.

Along the banks, adorned with stately trees and cultivated fields, the empty eyes of old country houses evoke a past where the pace of life was in tune with the waterway. Fields of barley, wheat and beet accompany the journey under Maganey Bridge. The soothing sound of falling water signals the approach of another weir and the following lock. The Three Counties Pub at Maganey reflects the fact that three county boundaries - Kildare, Calow and Laois, meet hereabouts. Tie-up, have a relaxing drink and enjoy the peace and the company.

After Bestfield Lock, the dominant feature is Ireland's largest sugar refinery, which processes the raw material from the extensive beet fields in the area. This signals the approach of Carlow Town. The boatstream, which has been close to the east bank from Athy, now switches to the west bank after Graiguecullen Bridge (1815) and its weir. Looming above the bridge is the imposing ruin of the 13th century Anglo-Norman Carlow Castle. The expanse of grassy quays and the huddle of warehouses bear witness to the town's pivotal role in trade and commerce along the Barrow Navigation. Below the lock is the fine modern marina of Ceatharlach Moorings with overnight mooring facilities, toilets, showers, telephone, safe docking, pump out and recharging facilities.

Carlow is the county capital with bustling, friendly streets, sophisticated fashion shops and a variety of nightlife including traditional and jazz music sessions, theatre, discos, pubs with entertainment and a cinema. Carlow's 18-hole parkland golf course is considered to be one of the top 20 championship courses in Ireland. Browne's Hill Dolmen (3 km) is the largest portal dolmen in Europe, with a capstone weighting 101 metric tons. The elegant Cathedral (1833), with its magnificent tower and lantern is well worth seeing as is the graceful Courthouse (1830). Carlow Museum reflects the town's historic past.

Below Carlow Weir, the banks are liberally endowed with walls of willow sallies and alder. The landscape is according to Thackeray - the 19th century satirist and author of Vanity Fair - "exceedingly beautiful, with noble hills rising on either side and the broad silver Barrow flowing through rich meadows of that astonishing verdure which is only to be seen in this country". The pink heads of Himalayan balsam add an exotic touch to the banks on the way to Clogrennan Lock.

Milford Lock is negotiated on the way to Milford, once the centre of an extensive milling industry. It was from this quiet hamlet, that, in 1981, Carlow became the first inland town in Ireland or Britain to receive a public electric supply. The generating plant has been recently restored. The idyllic setting includes 3 bridges, handsome mill buildings and a wooded area, containing an aquatic triangle, rich with wildlife. The river now meanders through tranquil countryside, past a wood of oak, ash and draping willow, where time seems to stand still. An island-studded straight stretch of water leads to Leighlinbridge. Glide through the graceful arches of the oldest bridge on the river. The attractive 7-arch structure was built in 1320 by Maurice Jakis and the castle which dominates the river is known as the Black Castle, originally built in 1180.

The sea of tranquillity may be on the moon, but the earthbound version is the stretch of river between Leighlinbridge and Baganalstown. The celebrated Dinn Righ ring fort (not open to the public) on the west bank presides over pastoral beauty and pastoral peace in equal measure after which a cut leads to Rathellen Lock and on to Bagenalstown. The approach to Bagenalstown is infused with the character of its 18th century origins, with lovely stone-cut buildings, a drawbridge and a picturesque lock. Cruise on through the east arch of a railway viaduct after which a series of locks will keep the crew busy; these include locks at Fenniscourt and Slyguff.

Goresbridge, with its graceful 9-arch bridge, lies between Upper and Lower Ballyellen locks. International buyers in search of high quality Irish horses are attracted to the famous horse fairs held here every three months.

The presence of so many locks over a short 9 km of waterway, signals a change in character to the landscape. The tension between the valley and the surrounding hills increases and adds visual splendour to the journey to Ballytiglea Bridge. Moor here for Booris (3 km)

Borris is the home of the Kavanaghs, an old Irish family and part of the MacMurrough Kavanagh dynasty, former kings of Leinster. Beautiful stone-cut buildings and traditional shop and pub fronts add to the appeal of the town. A 9-hole golf course and a linear park with picnic area and tennis courts provide pleasant distractions. The pubs with their traditional music sessions and friendly atmosphere have gained nation-wide recognition.

Below Borris Lock a miniature one-eyed bridge conceals a tiny harbour. It was from this place that Arthur Kavanagh, who was born without limbs in 1831, set forth by boat to Westminster to fulfil his duties as Member of Parliament. He was Lord Lieutenant of County Carlow, Member of the Privy Council of Ireland, local magistrate and a superb horseman. Further downstream, the Rhine-like aspect of the valley can be appreciated to the full, with the Blackstairs Mountains on one side and Saddle Hill on the other pinching the river tight between the valley walls. The hills flow down to the river, retreat, and flow again, all clad in a huge variety of deciduous trees, some of which bend their heads over the stream, creating rich leafy banks of great beauty.

The broad graceful curves of the weirs and the setting of the locks at Ballingrane, Clashganny and Ballykeenan provide beautiful subjects for your camera and your holiday album. The river bends and bends again past Silaire Woods and its choir of birds. This stretch of water is nature at its most gentle, which makes the final bend all the more surprising and exciting, when the colourful town of Gragnamangh is suddenly revealed on the west bank, with Brandon Hill making a dramatic statement above it.

Graignamangh is in Co. Kilkenny, while Tinnahinch, on the east bank, is in Co. Carlow. The beautiful bridge floodlit at night, links the two and dates from 1767 when a canal system was being built on the Barrow to improve navigation. Before the bridge and perched above the town is historic Duiske Abbey, now beautifully restored. Norman monks from Stanley Abbey, Wiltshire, founded it in 1204. Take time to walk through the town with its great selection of shops, pubs and music. Those of you who like long walks can take the road to Brandon Hill or head for Tinnahinch bridge and join the South Leinster Way long-distance walking trail.

Cruising downstream, the valley becomes deeper, with first the west and then the east banks carrying tiers of trees on steep hills which tumble colourfully towards the river all the way to St. Mullins and the end of the navigation.