Shannon Princess

Meet in Dublin and transfer to Shannon Princess, moored in Glasson. After a welcome reception, take some time to relax on deck before sitting down to a gourmet dinner.

Visit Kilbeggan Distillery for a tasting. Dating from 1757, it is the oldest licensed whiskey distillery in the world. Then explore the winding streets of charming Athlone.

Shannon Princess cruises through the Callows, a protected area of lush meadows and grasslands. Moor below the ruins of Clonmacnoise, a famous sixth-century university and early Christian settlement. Visit reputedly haunted Leap Castle, a place of much bloodshed and brutal atrocities over the centuries.

Today's idyllic cruise passes changing landscapes dotted with ivy-covered ruins, medieval garrisons and sleepy market villages. After Meelick Lock, pause as Portumna Swing Bridge is opened to allow access to Lough Derg; moor at the foot of Terryglass. Continue to Birr Castle, residence of Lord Rosse and his family. See the magnificent gardens, the fascinating Science Center and the historic telescope.

Visit Portumna Castle and its walled kitchen gardens this morning. Continue to the university city of Galway, a stronghold of the Irish language, for lunch at an authentic Guinness and oyster bar. Return to Shannon Princess for a leisurely cruise to Mountshannon, perhaps to enjoy a moonlit ramble in the old estate village or dancing at the local hotel.

Cruise through charming stretches of Lough Derg to the twin towns of Killaloe and Ballina. Visit Adare Manor for a private falconry display with a variety of birds of prey, set on the Manor's lovely grounds. Continue to a traditional handweavers' workshop and studio to learn how small cottage industries still thrive. Return to the barge for a gala farewell dinner this evening.

After breakfast, disembark in Killaloe and transfer back to Dublin, where your journey ends.