The River Shannon - ideal for angling holidays
Fishing is a popular thing to do on waterways, and a great place to indulge your passion during a holiday is along the River Shannon in Ireland. This watercourse is among the nation's oldest - dating back to the Ice Age - and is surrounded by lovely scenery.
Angling fans flock to the area as the river is well-known for its wonderful fishing opportunities, being full of bream, rudd, pike, tench and roach. Running from the Shannon Pot in County Cavan and down the Shannon Estuary, the river joins the seawater at Limerick.
The best way to make the most of an angling holiday is to situate yourself on the water, and by choosing a canal getaway that's exactly what you can do. Not only will this mean you're already at your chosen location before you even get up in the morning; you can do away with traditional vacation-related irks like daily check-out times.
Begin your river cruise at the bustling town of Carrick-on-Shannon, where you can stock up on provisions at the busy market, selling fresh food and homemade goods. The location is renowned as one of Ireland's top coarse angling centres, so be sure to spend some time dipping into one of more than 40 lakes throughout the settlement.
Once you've settled in on your boat and had your fill of fishing in the location, you can head towards Drumshanbo, situated on the shores of Lough Allen. Here, you might be lucky enough to catch a trout along with the region's more common species. There's also an amenity centre in the area, where you can enjoy a game of tennis or a swim and the youngsters can expend some energy in the children's play area.
The next spot you might like to call in at on River Shannon boating holidays is Roosky. This is a popular stopping point for fishermen and is known as Ireland's fishing centre, so be sure to cast a line here. There's also Lakeland Fishery to visit, where you can have a go at catching carp.
If you feel like stretching your legs, head to Lough Rynn House and Gardens at Mohill to follow the walking trails around the lake and view the ornamental garden. Mohill has a long reputation as being a good coarse angling centre, surrounded by great fishing spots like Lough MacHugh, Creenagh Lake and Lough Rynn, all of which are full of tench, bream and pike.
From here, head on to Lanesborough Town, which also has excellent fishing facilities. Among the species you can catch are bream, tench and rudd. You might also want to have a go at the pitch and putt course while you're here, and take the opportunity to visit the supermarket to stock up on essentials.
Make your way on to Shannonbridge to fish in this long-established angling centre. As well as casting a line, there are plenty of other things to do here, such as embark on a 9 km rail trip through Blackwater Bog and learn more about the local landscape.
Little ones are sure to love a trip to the Ashbrook Open Farm and Agricultural Museum, while calling in at Clonony Castle makes for a fascinating afternoon out for the whole family.
Journey on next to Portumna, situated at the head of Lough Derg and known as one of Galway's most attractive towns. Here you can do some sightseeing and follow in the footsteps of King James I and Queen Elizabeth I by visiting the castle here.
You can also stretch your legs in Portumna Forest Park, where a mile-long walking trail will take you past a wealth of both common and exotic trees.
Portumna offers good fishing waters, especially at hotspots like Rogers Island and Fairyhill. Other possibilities include the Salmon Run and the Old Sheebeen Stretch. Spring is known as a particulalry good time for angling here, as roach and hybrids are particularly common as they move upstream.
Mountshannon is another place you might like to visit on your canal holiday; a model village, the settlement has an attractive harbour and very good fishing opportunities on the lake here. You can pick up angling supplies and bait from a number of shops in the area and cast a line with the picturesque Sliabh Aughty mountains as your backdrop.
