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5 minutes to book. Best day of our entire trip. Everything felt effortless from pickup to sunset.
Port guide
Portumna — at a glance
34 boats are available to book in Portumna from Connaught Harbour. The most common models are Shannon Star (6), Elegance (5), Caprice (4), Magnifique (2), Consul (2) — 16 models in all. Built 1993–2025, 9–15 m long, 1–5 cabins, up to 12 guests.
Portumna is the town at the head of Lough Derg, where the Shannon enters the largest of its lakes, two hours from Dublin and an hour from Shannon airport: its marina is a hire base for licence-free cruisers on Lough Derg — Terryglass, Mountshannon, Garrykennedy, Killaloe — and up the river to Banagher, Clonmacnoise and Athlone.
Getting there
By air. Shannon Airport (SNN) is about 80 km — an hour by road; Dublin (DUB) about 160 km, two hours. By road and bus. The M6 exit Loughrea, then the N65; Bus Éireann from Galway and Dublin. Free parking at the marina.
Portumna before you cast off
Portumna Castle and its walled gardens, the forest park on the lake shore and the Irish Workhouse Centre; Terryglass and Mountshannon are the prettiest harbours on the lake, Killaloe at its southern end.
Supermarkets in the town within walking distance of the marina; the base has a shop, water and fuel.
A week from Portumna
Day 1 — Portumna → Terryglass (12 km). Down the lake to the harbour and pubs of Terryglass.
Day 2 — Terryglass → Mountshannon (25 km). Along the western shore to Mountshannon and Holy Island.
Day 3 — Mountshannon → Killaloe (20 km). To the town at the southern end of the lake.
Day 4 — Killaloe → Garrykennedy (15 km). Back up the eastern shore to the castle harbour.
Day 5 — Garrykennedy → Portumna → Banagher (40 km, 1 lock). Up past the base and the Portumna bridge to Banagher.
Day 6 — Banagher → Clonmacnoise → Banagher (30 km). The monastic site from the river and back.
Day 7 — Banagher → Portumna (25 km, 1 lock). Home to the marina by mid-morning.
Ports near Portumna
Banagher (5 boats · 18 km) · Carrick on Shannon (53 boats · 95 km) · All boats in Ireland
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of boats can I charter in Portumna?
34 boats are available to book in Portumna: 34 motor boats. The most common models are Shannon Star, Elegance, Caprice, Magnifique.
Can I take a boat out for just one day?
Yes — 34 boats here accept a single-day booking. A day rate is quoted for the specific boat and date, so pick your day on the boat’s own page and the price comes back live.
What is not in the price?
The figure is for the boat. Transit log, tourist tax and the APA are mandatory, set per boat, and paid at the base. Skipper, hostess, extra equipment and other services are optional and also settled at the base.
Why do some boats show no price?
34 of the 34 boats in Portumna are on request — usually larger or crewed yachts, where the rate depends on the week and the crew. They are left out of every figure above.
How far is the airport from Portumna?
The nearest airport is Shannon Airport (SNN), about 65 km away as the crow flies; Dublin Airport (DUB) is about 135 km. Transfer times by road are longer; most charter companies arrange a transfer to the base on request.
Do I need a licence for a motor cruiser here?
No. The hire cruisers on these waterways are licence-free for boats under the local power limit; the base gives an hour’s instruction on handling, mooring and the locks or bridges before departure.
What day do charters start?
Weekly hires usually run Saturday to Saturday or Friday to Friday, with handover in the afternoon and return by mid-morning; shorter breaks are common — the exact times are on each boat’s page.