Lakeside Vibes
Birchwood Sauna
From Thursday afternoon, May 30 to Monday, June 3
Book via WhatsApp WhatsApp 085 230 2387.
Unwind and Relax in front of Lough Derg in a Sauna
A magical, fun and relaxing experience any time of the day.
Learn the Ropes
Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 June
€10/ €8 wristband and family special €20/ €15 wristband
60 minutes sailing
"Learn the Ropes"
Sail a dinghy around the beautiful Mountshannon Bay with experienced sailors from Killaloe Sailing Club and discover the joy of sailing. Boats will set sail on the hour on Saturday 31st and Sunday 1st (10am - 1pm ) from Mountshannon Harbour. Places are limited so booking is essential. This event is ideal for families also.
Kayaking taster session
Saturday 1 June - 11 to 3.30pm
€5 with a wristband
East Clare Paddlers will be offering kayaking taster sessions in Mountshannon Harbour. This is a unique opportunity to experience Lough Derg and see Mountshannon from a different perspective!
The 30 min taster sessions will run from 11am to 3:30pm.
Advance booking required as places are limited. 5€ per person with the festival wristband. Participants should wear comfortable, weather appropriate clothing that may get wet, and water shoes or old runners.
Please arrive 15 min before your allocated time slot, so that we can provide you with the appropriate safety equipment and instruction. This event is weather dependent.
Barge 52M
This century-old barge will serve as a venue for art exhibitions, workshops, events, spoken word and music. We are delighted to welcome it.
52M was built for the Grand Canal Company in 1928 by Vickers in Dublin.
That crew had an unfortunate "directional incident" one morning leaving Killaloe with a load of porter for Limerick. On the return journey out of Limerick they had a load of Maize and 52M sank in the tailrace just below Parteen bridge. The story goes that she didn't sink immediately so the crew managed to get their bed clothes off and they slept on the bank for the night. The boat was left under water for the winter and was raised the following summer when water levels were lower.
After the Canal was closed in 1959, 52M was sold off by CIE to a Mr. A. Power who subsequently sold it on to Roadstone. Roadstone used her for a few years as a sand and gravel boat on the river Suir. In 1969 she was submerged in the river near Mooncoin and was in pretty bad shape when it was purchased by Robertstown Muintir na Tire for £350. That July she was towed to St. Mullins, by a pilot boat, for repairs. After repairs she was towed by 107B (another Robertstown Muintir na Tire boat) all the way back to Robertstown.
In 1970 John Tyrell of Arklow designed a superstructure to accommodate 60 to 70 passengers. It took two years to do the converstion and when she was launched in 1972 by Mrs George Colley she was named the 'Eustace': The name was in recognition of Colonel Charles Eustace one time Chairman of the court of directors of the Grand Canal. From then to 1980 the Eustace was used for passenger tours on the Grand Canal. In 1985 trips commenced again and she was used by RTE for a film 'The Stowaway' with a cast of children from Robertstown School.
In 1987 Dublin Eastern Regional Tourist Organisation (DERTO) was given possession of the boat and the hotel. Boat trips had ceased prior to this take-over so these were started up again. In 1990 Midlands Eastern Regional Tourist Organisation (MERTO) took over the ownership and running of 52M, 107B and the hotel in Robertstown. The following year 52M got a new Ford 5000 engine. Two years later in 1992 Robertstown Community Development Association took a lease on the Eustace. The boat was refurbished and re-launched by Charlie McCreevy at the May Festival that year. She was once again back doing trips on the canal, it's got a bar aboard and was used for festivals, weddings, bus trips and school tours
