Shannon calling

Conor Power finds craic and calm in equal measure on an Irish riverboat cruise

AFTER arriving on a sleepy sunny morning in Banagher, we were sat down and made to watch a half-hour documentary on safety and river-cruising etiquette: We learned such things as ensuring to “drive” on the right as well as how to cope with a variety of emergency situations.

You don’t need a licence to drive a boat in Ireland but you do need some basic training. We were shown the ropes and put through our paces around the marina and under the bridge; getting familiar with handling the boat and the system of navigation signage. All along the river, the channels are clearly marked so there’s no danger of straying into rocky or shallow waters.