Boating on beautiful Lough Ree now accessible to all
Thanks to the Lough Ree Access for All boat, everyone can enjoy the delights of the ‘lake of kings’ in Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands.
Lough Ree, the lake of kings, is a popular boating destination along the Shannon waterway and also one of the island of Ireland’s best angling spots boasting good stocks of pike, trout and coarse fish.
A new boat that has been adapted for wheelchair users and those with a disability is now ensuring that no-one is excluded from enjoying all the lough has to offer. The Lough Ree Access for All boat caters for up to three wheelchairs at a time and is the only licensed vessel of its kind in Ireland or the United Kingdom for passenger travel of this nature. The roll-on roll-off design makes it easy for wheelchair users to embark and disembark from the boat.
Those keen to try their hand at angling can take a guided fishing trip, with all rods and reels supplied, and have a go at catching one of the lough’s famous large pike which can weigh more than 9kg. There are also daily trips around the lough visiting some of its many islands.
Among these is Inishcleraun (Quaker Island), a place of learning and pilgrimage for centuries, where the remains of churches founded in AD 540 can still be explored as well as a fort built for protection against Viking raids. The ruins of other monastic sites can be seen on Inis Inchturk, Inis Inchmore, Inis Inchbofin, and Inis Ainghin (Hare Island).
Lough Ree is one of the largest lakes on the Shannon waterway and is also designated as a special area of conservation. Lots of flora and fauna can be glimpsed on a boat trip including a range of waterfowl such as widgeon, teals, great crested grebes, water rails and cormorants.
At the exit of the lake on its southern side is the historic town of Athlone. Here centuries of history are written into the buildings and streets. An imposing twelfth-century castle sits on the river’s edge and tells the story of the early settlements, warring chieftains and foreign invaders who shaped the region.
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