Contributions by Patrick Meagher

Patrick Meagher says:

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Don't attempt at low tide or you'll end up on the sand bar. Some rocks approachin shore, keep your GPS on. Well worth a visit though as there is a lot to see and do in the beautiful village, caving, birds of prey, the burren, and good restaurants.

2 x helpful | written on 14. May 2025

Patrick Meagher says:

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This is the sailing base for Galway Bay Sailing Club. sailing@gbsc.ie
Phone 089 278 5400, Renville East,Co. Galway,H91 W678.
There may be some anchorages/moorings available. Telephone first.
More info https://www.gbsc.ie/.
There is a pier and slipway.

1 x helpful | written on 12. May 2025

Patrick Meagher says:

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Mooring and navigation is easy, as is mooring alongside, with anchorages outside. Lovely village, music bars, hotel, and restaurants. Middle-ages castle with banquets, https://www.dunguairecastle.com/. Great walks

1 x helpful | written on 12. May 2025

Patrick Meagher says:

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Navigation can be difficult as there are two covered rocks about 150M out.
There is rarely space, and the harbour dries out on low tide.
Beautiful village, with great restaurants/bars.

1 x helpful | written on 13. May 2025

Patrick Meagher says:

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Entry OK. Rarely any room. Lots of criscrossing lines.
You could anchor off and dinghy in.

1 x helpful | written on 13. May 2025

Patrick Meagher says:

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Entry is OK. Not much room on the pier. May have yo anchor out, and dinghy in. Near a nice village with bars, toilets, playgrounds, and a beach to swim at.
Mainly a fishing boat harbour with local boats. No charge.

1 x helpful | written on 14. May 2025

Patrick Meagher says:

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This is as far northwest as you can go, the rest of this river is only navigable by kayak. This is in custodianship of the Corrib Navigation Trust. There is usually an empty berth on the pier. Great pub , "Keanes" nearby. Great hillwalking as you are now in "the middle of Connemara". I have tied up to a tree in ths well sheltered harbour on one occasion. This place is beautiful!

1 x helpful | written on 15. May 2025

Patrick Meagher says:

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This is a fishing boat quay. I moored my sailboat here, and a local lad said it was a rarity. Depth is 1.5M, no facilities, has a slip. Lovely scenery.

1 x helpful | written on 15. May 2025

Patrick Meagher says:

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Easy to get in and out of , and deep enough, 2.5 M, and sheltered from the prevailing southwesterlies, and close to the village of Oughterard, a well served village with restaurants and pubs. Never failed to get a spot to tie up. Mainly lake fishing boats.

1 x helpful | written on 15. May 2025

Patrick Meagher says:

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This part of the lake is full of rocks so stick to the marked channels, or you'll be sorry!

1 x helpful | written on 15. May 2025

Patrick Meagher says:

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Easy to navigate to, very visible from the lake, depth up to 2.5 M. Always a berth here for the night.

1 x helpful | written on 15. May 2025

Patrick Meagher says:

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One of the largest quays on the lake. Always plenty of room. Easy to get in and out. Custodionship and HQ of the Corrib Navigation Trust.

1 x helpful | written on 15. May 2025

Patrick Meagher says:

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This is a small pier on a holy Island. There is an ancient 11th century church ruin on the island, and an ogham stone to St Patrick's nephew who is buried here.

1 x helpful | written on 15. May 2025

Patrick Meagher says:

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Shallow and the markings on the way in can be missed. This bay is full of rocks.
Unless you know your way, could be tricky!

1 x helpful | written on 15. May 2025

Patrick Meagher says:

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Leenane is a lovely village in the navigational end to this Fjiord. There are 6 mooring buoys that are maintained by the local authority and are available at a nominal charge. +353 (0)91 509000. I have never seen them all full, so, it is a safe bet. You are a short dinghy ride to a village with 3 bars, and 3 restaurants, and a local craft centre/shop, seaweed baths, and childrens playground.
If you like hillwalking, well then you are at home here. Watch out for the fishfarms on the way in. Good fishing here as well, so you could catch your supper.

1 x helpful | written on 17. May 2025

Patrick Meagher says:

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This harbour dries out, so only good for bilge keel, or dinghy for coming ashore.

1 x helpful | written on 17. May 2025

Patrick Meagher says:

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Getting here will be a test of your navigation, and before GPS would be inadvisable. But now the rocks in the middle of the channel are well marked and make the entry safer. There are a lot of rocks in this deceptively safe looking bay. Sandy bottom, Depth 6M at low.

1 x helpful | written on 17. May 2025 | updated_on 17. May 2025

Patrick Meagher says:

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If you safely got into Ballinakill, this is where you likely have most comfort, particularly if you took in behind the headland. Sand and silty mud, and some weed. Multiple dinghy landing spots to the west toward the road. Not much in the way of services, so bring your own food. In southerly and Sw winds this is a comfortable spot. Otherwise go to Derryinver. There are about 6 County Council swing mooring buoys that are maintained annually here, that are a good option. Available at a minimum charge, call +353 (0)91 509000.

1 x helpful | written on 17. May 2025 | updated_on 17. May 2025

Patrick Meagher says:

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This is the easiest place to anchor in Ballinakill. Muddy bottom min depth 3M, a short dinghy ride to the drying out and rocky quay. Don't bring your expensive sailboats to this quay, or they may suddenly lose a lot of value!! When yo get ashore follow the road east for 200M, then turn right for a 2km walk to Letterfrack. Bring a headtorch and flourescent jacket, as there are no public lighting, and this narrow road can be busy.

1 x helpful | written on 17. May 2025

Patrick Meagher says:

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Barnaderg bay, is a shallow, sheltered, muddy bay with a few inconvenient rocks, on your GPS. 20M of anchore rode will probably hold you here in anything less than F3, and you have Keelkyle, a drying out quay to come ashore, just a short walk from the village of Letterfrack. The depth at low tide is about 1M, so ideal for bilge keeled boats.

1 x helpful | written on 17. May 2025

Patrick Meagher says:

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The pier is very busy with ferry to Inishboffin, and fishing vessels. Not a good place to tie up, and the inner harbour dries out. There is good holding but choppy anchorage to the NNE and NE, in 6M silt and weed. Do not anchor in the ferry approach to the quay or you'll be woken with an angry blast of the horn. Although a pretty good anchorage, you won't sleep to well, always a chop. There are some empty private mooring buoys, these cannot be trusted, so don't risk your vessel on these. A much better bet if there is to be anything other than light winds, would be Ballinakill, northwards, Inishboffin harbour, northwest, or Clifden 14Kn to the south. It has County Council quality swing mooring buoys!!

1 x helpful | written on 17. May 2025

Patrick Meagher says:

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Clifden, town, and Clifden harbour ticks a lot of boxes, easy to navigate to, availability of county council visitor swing moorings at two locations. A pier nearby to get ashore, and a worthwhile town to go to for a meal and some shopping. The swing moorings are available at a nominal price, ring +353 (0)91 509000 to pay. Here's a link to more info about Clifden https://www.discoverireland.ie/clifden

1 x helpful | written on 17. May 2025

Patrick Meagher says:

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Remote but charming island, always windy. Don't get in the way of the ferry. Tory island is the mythical home of Balor of the Evil Eye, a diety/warrior/king of the Fomorians, who lost sway when they were defeated by the tuatha De Danaan, led by his grandson Lugh Lamh fada, longarmed Lou about 4000 years ago.

1 x helpful | written on 17. May 2025 | updated_on 17. May 2025

Patrick Meagher says:

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Easy to get to. A fishing pier really. Not a lot to do here. Relaxing though. Free to tie up.

0 x helpful | written on 13. May 2025

Patrick Meagher says:

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You need to have shallow draft to tie up here, 3 boats, lifting keel or bilge.
Nice restaurant here. Free to tie up for a night.

0 x helpful | written on 13. May 2025

Patrick Meagher says:

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This is a quay wall and slipway on the river Corrib in Galway. The day trip motor boat that tours the lake leaves from this quay, so this part of the quaywall has to be kept free for boarding or un boarding, but there are some free mooring rings that are marked. As there is a bridge over the river Corrib, that is about 6M high, there will be no boats with a mast higher than this. This quay has a slipway. Depth at quay is about 1.5M. This quay is close to the centre of the city and was the main city quay for trade with the lake communities in the past.

0 x helpful | written on 14. May 2025

Patrick Meagher says:

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This is a private club and need to be contacted if you wish to use any facilities, https://crycgalway.com/.

0 x helpful | written on 14. May 2025

Patrick Meagher says:

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This is just a floating jetty with room for two 20 Ft boats, that is owned by the university AFAIK, is rarely used. No facilities, but it is the most southerly dock, north of the bridge, and so can be used by a sailboat on the lake. Only if your keel depth is 1.5M or less, and there is a rock about 3 M out that is 1.2 M deep, look out! Go slow!

0 x helpful | written on 14. May 2025 | updated_on 14. May 2025

Patrick Meagher says:

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Once again, depth is the main issue, 1M and there are just two mooring pins left. One rarely sees boats here. If one does it may be a lake fishing boat, or kayak. Nice place for a swim. The university sports ground are all around. Owned by the university. Overnights not permitted. Great place for a swim, walk, or a Parkrun.

0 x helpful | written on 14. May 2025

Patrick Meagher says:

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This is a small, well sheltered shallow draft,1.2M, harbour that is easy to navigate to. Under the custodianship of the Corrib Navigation Trust. Free to use.

0 x helpful | written on 14. May 2025

Patrick Meagher says:

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You'll miss the turn off to this little quay. This is in the joint custodianship of the Corrib Navigation Trust, and the Bushypark Residents association. This used to be a junction yard and stop, on the railway line from Clifden to Galway, stock were unloaded here and put on railway cars. This harbour is surrounded by mature trees, mainly Alders, hence the name. I think it is one of the most beautiful small quays on the lake. Lots of weeds on the way in, but I could get my 1.6 M draft keelboat in and out. Has a slip as well. No services at all, bring a picnic. Watch out for the kingfisher!!

0 x helpful | written on 14. May 2025

Patrick Meagher says:

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Lisloughrey is the biggest quay on the lake, and is in the Co Mayo part of the lake. It is in the custodianship of the Corrib Navigation Trust, and Mayo Co Council. Visiting boats can usually moor alongside the quay, but not on the area marked out for the Corrib Princess lake tour boat. Depth, 3M at the pier but further in are reeds and shallows, and believe it or not great anchoring/mooring for a small boat. The prevailing winds here are SW, and this harbour is a bit vulnerable. Walking distance to two hotels, the famous Ashford Castle, and equally nice, less famous, Lisloughrey Lodge. Walking distance to arguably the most beatiful village in Ireland, Cong. Fuel can be delivered by arrangement.

0 x helpful | written on 14. May 2025 | updated_on 14. May 2025

Patrick Meagher says:

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Easy quay to get into and out of. It is on the private grounds of one of the top hotels in Ireland, Ashford Castle. I assume they own it. I have tied up her a few times, but never stayed over!!
No facilities. There used to be a shop/cafe about 100 yards away. Not sure if its still open.

0 x helpful | written on 16. May 2025

Patrick Meagher says:

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The problem with tis well sheltered river quay, is a mid stream shallow halfway in the river, halfway to the lake. Unless you are shallow draft, lifting kell, or bilge, best forget about this quay. Almost exclusively lake fishing boats. It is only a 4-5 min walk from here to the village centre, and some of the best pubs in County Galway, for food and drink.
The "Corribee" yacht was first designed, and built in this village, and you walk past the old site of the boatyard on the way to the village. All closed now though.

0 x helpful | written on 16. May 2025 | updated_on 16. May 2025

Patrick Meagher says:

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This habour was built in the 1820's, with money that was raised by charitable donations from the guilds in London, for famine relief in Ireland in the 1820's, after a year long hunger, that followed a bad harvest in 1822. It was built for the "poor fishermen of Galway". It is only possible to navigate here at high tide, and no masted vessel can get under the railway bridge at this time. At high tide you might get here in a dinghy or kayak. Dunno how this barge got here, but its been here for 5-6 years now.

0 x helpful | written on 16. May 2025

Patrick Meagher says:

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This is an easy quay to get to, with a high likelihood that there will be a spot. There is a fine sea restaurant just as you step off the boat, with great food, drink, and hospitality, at great value too. If you like seafood, this destination is a must, and good place to overnight. Draft at low is about 2M.
www.linnanesbar.com

0 x helpful | written on 16. May 2025

Patrick Meagher says:

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Clarenbridge is a nice village, but navigating up this stream is for confirmed creek crawlers. The issue is water, and at low tide the lack of it. There are some rocky areas around the quay wall that will damage your boat at low tide, so, just come here on your dinghy and tie up and visit the lovely village of Clarenbridge.

0 x helpful | written on 16. May 2025

Patrick Meagher says:

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Entry is easy, as is anchoring. Make sure you are holding as the prevailing wind puts you on to a lee shore. Maybe to Co Council moorings in Leenane would be a better bet if you are unsure. A few wind farms around here, so if its foggy or visibility is poor, don't come here. The views are spectacular, but no facilities nearby.

0 x helpful | written on 16. May 2025

Patrick Meagher says:

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Check your holding, and your depth, go as close as your draft will permit, and enjoy. Sandy bottom. No services. In the right weather, heavenly.

0 x helpful | written on 16. May 2025