Before you come
Plan your visit
We run April to October from the quay at Shannonbridge. Everything you need to know before you book.
Bring a layer more than you think you need. It is always cooler on the water.Getting here
Finding the quay
Shannonbridge is on the R357 in County Offaly, where the county meets Roscommon and Galway. It is about twenty minutes from Athlone and a little over two hours from Dublin.
There is free parking in the village, and the quay is a two-minute walk from it. Come down past the 1757 bridge. If you reach Lukers you have gone about twenty metres too far.
- Village
- Shannonbridge, Co. Offaly
- Eircode
- N37 XK75
- Road
- R357
- From Athlone
- ~20 minutes
- From Dublin
- ~2 hours
- Parking
- Free, in the village
- Quay
- 2-minute walk
EircodeN37 XK75
Safety
What happens before you cast off
Nobody goes out without a briefing. Most people are confident within five minutes of taking the wheel.
No licence required
These are self-drive electric boats. No boating licence and no previous experience is needed. The law does not require one for this class of boat on this stretch.
Full briefing included
A walkthrough of the controls, the route, the rules of the river and what to do if anything goes wrong. It takes a few minutes and it is not optional.
Lifejackets provided
Adult and child sizes are provided with every hire and are required to be worn on the water. Safety first, always.
We are on the end of a phone
Every boat has a phone charging point, and we are reachable for the whole hire. If anything happens, we come to you.
What to bring
Pack light, dress warm
- A layer more than you think you need: it is always cooler on the water
- Flat shoes
- Sunglasses; the glare off the water is the thing people forget
- A picnic and something to drink, if you want one: every boat has cool box space
- Binoculars, if you have them. The Callows reward them
Questions
Asked often enough to answer here
Do I need a boating licence?
No. Our boats are self-drive and no licence or previous experience is required. You get a full briefing before you set off.
When are you open?
April to October. Start times follow daylight, so the last return moves through the season. The booking calendar only ever shows times that actually work on the day you pick.
How long should I book?
An hour is enough to leave the village behind and get out into open Callows. Two hours turns it into an outing rather than a look around. Half days run three and a half hours, full days seven. Nobody has ever told us they wished they had booked less time.
How many people fit?
The Kingfisher takes five, the Lapwing seven and the Whooper eleven. Pick the size that fits your group. Every boat is priced per boat, not per person.
Can children come?
Yes, and they usually end up steering. Child-size lifejackets are provided. The Lapwing is the one most families choose for the room to move around.
Can we bring food and drink?
Yes. Every boat has cool box space, and a picnic on the water is one of the better things you can do with an afternoon. If you would rather someone else cooked, you can moor at the quay and walk up to Lukers. Our Boat + Bar package, which books the table for you, is coming.
What if the weather turns?
Every boat has a sun canopy and the Callows are sheltered compared with open lake water. If conditions mean we cannot safely run, we will tell you and you will not be charged.
Can I cancel?
Free reschedule or refund up to 72 hours before your start time. Between 24 and 72 hours we move you to a credit you can use another day. Under 24 hours is non-refundable. If we cancel for weather, that is always free. Payment is taken securely online when you book.
Contact
Talk to a person
Booking questions, big groups, access needs, or something the FAQs do not cover: call or email and you will get one of us, not a queue.
We are on the water a fair amount. If we miss you, we ring back.- Phone
- +353 90 967 4000
- Where
- Shannonbridge, Co. Offaly, Ireland