In Ireland, boat hire holidays are not just a good idea â theyâre the obvious way to see the country. Reinvent yourself while you steer your self-drive boat, with the sound of U2 or the Cranberries in the background. Rent a boat from one of our bases and set off on a waterways cruise through a land thatâs greener than green.
Boat hire holidays in Ireland: the best possible road trip�
When people mention Ireland, lots of images come to mind. Heaths covered with heather, the ancient and colourful Irish language â a form of Gaelic â friendly pubs where Guinness is an institution, a deeply-anchored island culture, and Saint Patrickâs Day, when everyone gets up to danceâŠ
This is a country that is closely bound up with the sea and gave birth to the great James Joyce. Itâs a small island, criss-crossed by beautiful rivers and canals, and also dotted with navigable lakes that are teeming with salmon and trout. It has everything you need for really enjoyable boating holidays. The waterways in the heart of Ireland are like veins or arteries running through the country, flowing past castles perched on hillsides, granite villages, bustling towns, megaliths, thousand-year-old forests, monastic sites and golf courses with extensive greens. Ireland has 5,000 years of history as well as calm, gentle waters, bathed in a light thatâs unique. All this can be enjoyed from your canal boat, which gives you total freedom to explore at your own pace.
This land of mystery and legend unfolds on every side as you cruise along the waterways. A unique and spectacular journey.
The Shannon and the Erne, wonderful waterways to explore by boat
In this region you can enjoy one of the longest waterways networks in Europe â and one with the least traffic. Starting from our base at Carrick-on-Shannon or Banagher in the Republic of Ireland, boat hire holidays in this region are independent, hassle-free and take you easily to where you want to go.
Shannon & Erne
A dream cruise in Irish waters along the countryâs largest river, the Shannon, as far as the Erne.
If you want to explore Ireland, boat hire with Locaboat is your best first step
You may not have thought about seeing Ireland from its rivers and lakes when you were looking out for holiday ideas. But itâs a trip that really captures the spirit of the age. Your travellerâs soul will fall in love with the place. Youâll be hugely impressed by the quality of our bases, our fleet of self-drive boats, which require no license to drive them, our cruise itineraries and the pure simplicity of boating holidays in the land of the Celts. Travel in the footsteps of the Vikings, who also sailed up Irelandâs rivers, and discover the Druids, poets and artists who are the tutelary deities of Ireland, a land where everything arouses passion.
Skippering your canal boat, you can get to know this unspoilt and friendly civilisation at the slow pace of your boat. Our self-drive boats are attractive, easy to steer and let you combine discovery with pleasure. The watchword here is cĂ©ad mĂle fĂĄilte, which literally means âa hundred thousand welcomesâ… Youâve got it; the Irish are among the most welcoming people on the planet, something youâll experience every day on the waterways, as well as on land. If youâve already visited Ireland by car, donât miss the incredible experience of a âroad tripâ by boat. To complete the adventure, take some bikes on board from our base and youâll be as free on land as you are on the water.
Why choose Locaboat?
Locaboat Holidays has been the industry specialist for boating holidays and waterways cruises since 1977. Inventor of the PĂ©nichetteÂź, Locaboat is as famous for the friendliness and quality of its customer service as for the comfort and easy handling of its boats. When you rent a boat from Locaboat, youâll benefit from the advice of local experts who are passionate about boating and will do their utmost to make sure you enjoy a wonderful holiday.
More than 200 routes throughout Europe
1.4 million customers since 1977
97% of our customers would recommend us
More than 40 years of expertise to draw on