Nine boats of river cruising tourists enjoyed weekend visit to Carrick-on-Suir

The river cruising enthusiasts travelled from New Ross and Waterford and berthed their boats at Carrick-on-Suir Marina

Pictured above are visitors from New Ross and Waterford who cruised their boats to Carrick-on-Suir to enjoy a weekend in the town and its hinterland. Also pictured are members of the Explore Carrick-on-Suir tourism team, Jim Power, ISA Yachtmaster Coastal Skipper, and Niall Walsh (3rd from right) Chairperson of COSDA who coordinated the event. Picture Anne Marie Magorrian

A flotilla of nine cruiser boats from the Barrow Branch of the Inland Waterways Association of Ireland travelled by river from New Ross and Waterford to Carrick-on-Suir Marina to spend a weekend in the town.

The visiting cruise boats and their crews were accompanied by members of the Carrick Paddlers Club along the river as they arrived to berth at Carrick Marina on Friday evening, August 22.

The boats’ skippers and crew were warmly welcomed on arrival at the Marina by Carrick Development Association Chairman Niall Walsh, and Maurice Power, ISA Yachtmaster Coastal Skipper; Sarah Jane Cleary, Explore Carrick-on-Suir Commercial and Tourism Manager and her team, Olesia Yutkina and Kirsten Mate Maher and many others from Carrick.

The Osprey Viking Cruises boat from Waterford City arrives in Carrick-on-Suir

Among the group of visitors were Inland Waterways Association of Ireland Chairman Tom Connery of the Association’s Barrow Branch and his wife Deirdre who have been sailing to Carrick-on-Suir from New Ross for 35 years and John Diamond also from New Ross who has been cruising by boat to the town for 30 years.

Tom said the Marina was a great welcome development along the River Suir and he talked about the days when he used to sail up to Carrick-on-Suir before the marina was built.

Captain Andy and his team from Osprey Viking Cruises, Waterford, meanwhile, made their inaugural trip to Carrick Marina.

After tying up their cruisers the visitors of all ages, including families and pets, made their way to Cooney’s Pub on Main Street and enjoyed a social evening where they were treated to a buffet of sandwiches and hot food prepared by the Sunny Side Café.

Carrick-on-Suir Fianna Fáil Cllr Kieran Bourke and Patsy Fitzgerald of Carrick-on-Suir Development Association also attended the social evening.

COSDA Chairman Niall Walsh, who oganises this annual visit to Carrick-on-Suir, presented each of the skippers with a certificate to mark their visit to the Marina. He thanked them all for returning to Carrick every year and wished them an enjoyable stay in the town.

On behalf of the visitors, Tom Connery thanked their Carrick-on-Suir hosts for their hospitality and the wonderful welcome they always receive. He added that they all looked forward to another enjoyable stay in Carrick-on-Suir.

Niall Walsh emphasised the importance of the Marina and how great an asset it was to the town and its hinterland as it encouraged people to cruise by boat to Carrick-on-Suir, and stay for a few days.

Pictured at Carrick-on-Suir Marina are John Diamond, New Ross who has been cruising to Carrick for 30 years, Tom Connery and his wife Deirdre who have cruised to Carrick for 35 years and Niall Walsh Chairperson of COSDA. Picture Anne Marie Magorrian

Check out more photos from the cruiser boats visit to Carrick-on-Suir in this week's edition of The Nationalist now on sale in local shops.