Canoeing Rivers grade 2 Ireland?

[Adrian Cooper]

A friend of mine is organising a trip for a bunch of mates to paddle in Ireland. He is looking for a river or two with some easy moving water for the first day and some nice grade 2 for the second day. Paddlers will be of mixed abilities so nothing too technical but also nothing too tame.

All suggestions gratefully received.

[seaview]

I don't know much about the grade 2 rivers but the river Blackwater is a lovely flat moving river and depending where you join it there can have some interesting bits also but nothing to extreme. For one day a paddle from Mallow to Fermoy would be really nice and great for the more inexperience members of the group, around 25 km I think.

Dave.

[Voodoo]

Where about in Ireland are they heading,

I was from the NW Derry Direction, so what I know would be in the North and Bordering Counties, anything too far south there be Dragons


Off the Top off my Head you would be Looking at the Mourne river in Co Tyrone ( nothing to do with the mountains) or a wee bit more action on the Owenkillew river, good access on both off these for opens and both very near each other
Lower Derg Co. Tyrone

Or the River Roe in Co. Derry ( my home town River ) it flows through a lovely country park in stunning woodland valley

Eske in Co. Donegal is a nice paddle , beaware of the low level walk way half way along just above the crux of the river

The Liffy in Dublin Big Weirs, all fun

Or up the road from Dublin about an Hour is the Boyne in Co.Offaly and if memory serves me right its mostly slow flowing water with nice big weirs ( Fun Weir not Death type ones ) ( Mostly ) :-)

There is a lot more but I was allways paddling WW Kayak back home never gave much thought to open boat type river, However if they get there hands on " Irish Whitewater" it will be able to give them a better guide to which ever part they decide to head to

FYI: there is some great Canoe Trails been set up now On Lough Earn and Lough Negh if they need a fall back plan for low water

I have been taking Shrewsbury CC over there the last few years now a great time is had by all we base ourselfs in Bellek so we have a large range of rivers and if the rain gods dont smile on us, we have loads of surf beaches only 20 min away


Nigel

[Paddymcc]

Hea If you are just coming over for a short break get the ferry into Rosslare and then its half an hours driver to the river Barrow one of Irelands nicest waterways and grade 2 the whole way plenty of weirs and rapids lots of put in options and towns dotted along the river Great for a weekend trip. The you have the river Nore another Grade 2 river abit more natural than the Barrow but still has some man weirs. The river Slaney is also an option and also the river suir. All these rivers are located in the south east of the country and will be paddleable without recent rain fall.

Give me a email if you want anymore info or are looking for a guide or Boats I will be able to sort ye out.


Cheers
Paddy
irishcanoekayak@gmail.com
www.irishcanoekayak.com

[Adrian Cooper]

Thanks very much Paddy, that sound like just the ticket. I will find out what they have available and let you know if we need any help.

Cheers

Adrian

[orky]

the inny in the midlands is a great run also the mulcair and castleconnel in limerick are nice grade2 runs.
check out www.irishwhitewater.com