Carrick-on-Suir Marina hosted a flotilla of river boats that travelled from New Ross

A flotilla of seven cruisers and a 60ft long barge from the Barrow Branch of the Inland Waterways Association of Ireland, cruised from New Ross to Carrick-on-Suir Marina earlier this month. 

Their two-day visit to Carrick-on-Suir, starting on Saturday, June 3, coincided with the town’s Clancy Brothers Music & Arts  Festival. 

The boat and barge crews were warmly welcomed on arrival by Carrick-on-Suir Development Association Chairman Niall Walsh, his wife Finola and Maurice Power.  

The cruisers mainly came from New Ross, Graiguenamanagh in county Kilkenny, Waterford, St Mullins in county Carlow and

Carrick-on-Shannon.  

Many of the boating enthusiasts were making return visits to Carrick-on-Suir. Some have been sailing up river to the town since 1982. 

They spoke of being delighted when the local boat club back in the 1980s installed a floating platoon and later when the current marina was built in 2005.  

The event was organised by Carrick-on-Suir Development Association and John Diamond from the Barrow Branch of the Inland Waterways Association of Ireland in New Ross.  

The visiting boat crews retired to the Old Mill in New Street where refreshments were organised by Niall Walsh, who spoke of Carrick  Marina being a great asset to the town. 

“Few people know that it is possible to go by boat from Carrick to Lough Erne in  Fermanagh by sailing down to Waterford then up to New Ross and across the canal into the Shannon River and then all the way up to Lough Erne,” he said. 

The visitors were very impressed with the facilities at Carrick Marina and thoroughly enjoyed the Clancy Brothers Festival,  walks along the Suir Blueway and visits to historic locations around the town. They plan to return to Carrick soon.