Spirit of Scotland Barge Cruise

+ 1 more

Cruising through the Shannon River in Ireland from Glasson and Killaloe

Ireland’s River Shannon winds through a landscape of rolling green fields, quiet lakes, and ancient Celtic landmarks. Aboard the Shannon Princess, you’ll experience this scenic waterway at a leisurely pace, with plenty of time to soak in the history and charm along the way. The riverbanks are dotted with stories—some etched in stone, others passed down through generations. Locals are always happy to share a tale or two, whether it’s about the ruins you pass or the traditions that still thrive today. Your journey includes hand-picked excursions that bring Ireland’s heritage to life. Step inside a castle with its eccentric owner as your guide, watch master falconers at work, visit a whiskey distillery, and see artisans keeping the tradition of hand-weaving alive. And, of course, there’s always time for a well-poured pint of Guinness.

About this UnTour Cruise

Itinerary Highlights

Tour the legendary 6th-century Clonmacnoise ruins.

Full-day excursion to Portumna Castle and Galway.

Traditional Guinness and oyster lunch.

Visit the unusual and haunted Leap Castle.

Tour Birr Castle’s Gardens and Science Centre.

Birds of prey demonstration at Adare Manor.

Tour of the Kilbeggan Whiskey Distillery with a private tasting.

Visit a traditional Irish hand-weaving workshop.

Hear traditional Irish music.

Excellent walking and fishing opportunities.

Please note: This cruise operates in the opposite direction on alternating weeks. Please note that the itinerary is subject to change depending on weather conditions.

Air Options

We recommend flying in and out of Dublin Airport.

What's included

6 nights on board (Sunday to Saturday) in air-conditioned en-suite accommodation.
Transfer between Dublin and Barge Cruise.
Daily excursions, hosted by the Tour Guide, inclusive of all entry fees.
The services of our experienced Captain, Chef, Tour Guide, Housekeepers & Deck Hand.
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner aboard (set menu, local and international cuisine).
An excellent selection of fine regional and international wines and branded spirits from the open bar, soft drinks plus coffee, and a selection of teas.
Use of barge facilities such as bicycles, barge library, board games, complimentary Wi-Fi, and a spa pool.

Itinerary

Day 1 (Sunday): Welcome aboard and meet your crew - Glasson

Guests are met in Dublin and transferred by private chauffeured minibus to the Shannon Princess. Your Captain and crew will welcome you onboard with champagne, black velvet cocktails or perhaps an Irish coffee, before free time, perhaps for a stroll or a visit to St. Flannan’s Cathedral. Dinner on board.

Day 2 (Monday): Glasson to Athlone

This morning we begin our cruise around the beautiful ‘inner lakes’ (islands) of Lough Ree, passing stately homes and lush forested islands. We’ll then continue north as we explore some of the 365 islands on the lake. We then circle back to the River Shannon and onto our mooring in Athlone Town. After lunch we visit the Kilbeggan Whiskey Distillery, dating from 1757 and the oldest licensed whiskey distillery in the world. Dinner on board.

Day 3 (Tuesday): Athlone to Shannonbridge

Today we negotiate Athlone Lock and head south through Europe’s richest example of “Callow” landscape. We moor at Clonmacnoise ruins, a famed 6th century university and an early monastic settlement. Following a tour, we cruise on to our mooring at Shannonbridge. Then, after lunch we visit Leap Castle, reputed to be Ireland’s most haunted house. You will be given a personal tour by the eccentric owner Sean Ryan, whom with traditional Irish musicians, will relate to you the fascinating history of the castle and its part in founding the American Constitution. Dinner on board.

Day 4 (Wednesday): Shannonbridge to Terryglass

This morning, we cruise a very pretty stretch of the River Shannon through Meelick Lock, pausing as Portumna swing bridge is opened to allow us passage onto idyllic Lough Derg and then moor at Terryglass Harbour. This afternoon we visit Birr Castle, still resided in by the Earl of Rosse and family, to see the magnificent gardens, the fascinating Science Centre and admire the historic Great Telescope. Dinner on board.

Day 5 (Thursday): Terryglass to Mountshannon

Today, our tour is firstly, to the walled gardens of Portumna Castle, then on to Galway, a lively University City and cultural centre for Irish-speaking regions in Western Ireland. Visit Galway’s crystal, craft and linen shops and then lunch at a traditional Guinness & oyster pub. We return to Shannon Princess and set sail across beautiful Lough Derg, passing Forrest Park and ancient mountains as we enjoy our dinner and sunset cruise to Mountshannon – a lovely lakeside village perched above the Lough. Dinner on board.

Day 6 (Friday): Mountshannon to Killaloe

Today we set sail across south Lough Derg, re-joining the River Shannon to moor at Killaloe, once home to the court of the greatest High King of Ireland, Brian Boru. After exploring this elegant little town, we lunch on board, then set off to Adare Manor, a magnificent estate located on the banks of the River Maigue. Here, in the setting of the Walled Garden, we gain a real insight into the history and tradition of falconry and have the opportunity to ‘get up close and personal’ with birds of prey such as owls, falcons and eagles – a magical experience. We end the afternoon by visiting a traditional Irish hand-weaving workshop. ‘Sláinte’ cocktail reception and Captain’s Farewell Dinner on board.

Day 7 (Saturday): Killaloe

After breakfast, guests are transferred by private chauffeured minibus to Dublin.

Excursions

Included. Please see Itinerary.

Pre-Cruise Options

This barge cruise links well with our Ireland UnTour. There may be a few gap days between the cruise and the UnTour.

Ship

Shannon Princess

Shannon Princess, accommodating 10 guests in comfort, is the largest hotel barge to be cruising the River Shannon and its picturesque, intertwining lakes. Her thoughtfully-designed interior includes a comfortable saloon and dining area with panoramic windows. The five junior twin/double staterooms, also with picture windows, are stylishly furnished and each is air-conditioned, centrally heated, and accompanied by a modern en suite shower room.

The large rooftop sundeck is certainly the place to relax, perhaps on one of the comfortable loungers, to watch the countryside glide slowly by, or in the heated spa pool. There is also an inviting dining area with circular table to savour that gourmet meal on warmer days.

Shannon Princess’s Captain and his crew will go out of their way to ensure your every need is accommodated, while your Master Chef who was trained at Darina Allen’s world-famous Ballymaloe Cookery School, will create some wonderful signature dishes to make your enthralling voyage through the ‘Emerald Isle’ complete.

Stateroom Amenities

Twin or queen bed convertibility (125 sq.ft)
En suite bathroom
Towels, hand soap, shower gel, hair dryer, and bathrobes
Extractor fan (no windows)
Closet with storage space
Individually controlled heating & air conditioning
220 volts with sockets (standard European 2 pin plug)

Disclaimer

Our staff have inspected this cruise and the above description and photographs reflect what they saw at that time. It is possible that the supplier has made changes to the cruise without our knowledge. While we do our best to keep up with any changes or improvements made to our cruises, we cannot guarantee that everything in the above description will be accurate.

Shannon Princess Barge Cruise - Ireland