Riverboat Adventures

Riverboat Adventures runs guided boat trips along the River Barrow, setting out from the quay at Graiguenamanagh, a riverside town in County Kilkenny in the south east of Ireland. The town sits right on the boundary with County Carlow, which follows the river, so trips take in both sides of the valley. Run by local man Eoin Bolger, the trips carry up to twelve passengers in an open boat and last around an hour, giving a relaxed way to see this stretch of one of Ireland’s great waterways from the water.

The Barrow is the second longest river in Ireland and is a designated Special Area of Conservation. Tours travel upstream and down between the locks at Tinnahinch, on the Carlow side of the river, and Ballykeenan, passing wooded valleys, old lock houses where lock keepers once lived, and the lateral canals and navigations once worked by barges carrying goods along the waterway. Along the way there is a good chance of spotting local wildlife and birdlife.

Eoin shares the history and heritage of the river as the boat makes its way along the water, so the trip is as much about the story of the Barrow as the scenery. It suits families and anyone who enjoys an outing in the countryside. Trips generally run seven days a week through the season. As times and availability can vary, it is best to check ahead and book directly before travelling.