Welcome to Silver Bridge Kayak Club

Kayaking & Canoeing on the Boyne - Drogheda & Navan

Olli Grau Nomad v/s Mamba More

Dave Carroll  Swimmo's Line   More

The Barrow River.

The weather was up in  early July. I had a weeks holiday. Having spent three days mowing the lawns, trimming bushes and painting gates I reckoned I was entitled to a couple of days leisure. Late Wednesday evening I rang an old friend of mine now working in Carlow; after the usual greetings, I arranged to meet him early the next morning at the “harbour” in Carlow, and he would meet me with my car whenever I reached my destination. So with the transport sorted, I hastily packed my tent, sleeping bag and cooking utensils.

         By 9 a.m. on Thursday I was in Carlow. Canoe suitably packed  and all gear stowed I handed my car keys to my friend Joe and off I paddled. In glorious sunshine I paddled my “ Mad River” Canadian Canoe, through Carlow, and out into the countryside.

        I passed Clogrennan Castle and Claydagh Church and on to Milford. The weir at Milford was dry and necessitated a portage. After Milford I passed Orchard Islands and onto the village of Loughlinbridge.

       A very suitable spot for lunch as it was now just approaching 1 p.m. Having explored the village I settled on a ham sandwich and a pint of the blackstuff for lunch.

        Nicely refreshed I paddled on to Bagnelstown; passing numerous fishermen along the way.

        Bagnelstown looked super in the afternoon sun; as I lazily passed on.

        Paddling on through Ferriscourt, Slyguff and Ballyellen I had superb views of Mt. Leinster. I came to my resting place for the evening, Goresbridge.

        As I approached Goresbridge, it became very apparent I was entering a very busy village.

        The Goresbridge Horse Fair was in full flow and the village was  filled to overflowing.

        Luckily the harbor area was quiet, and within 10 yds of the river was the suitable camp spot I came upon in a long time.

        Without further ado and before I explored the area, I pitched my tent and cooked a meal.

        Goresbridge was an excellent village, “ postcard material” with a couple of nice “hostelries”. About 5 cruisers and barges pulled in for the evening as the harbor took a life of its own. I was noisily awakened at 6 a.m. the following morning  not by songbirds, but by the eager beaver binmen, collecting the refuse from the harbor area; I rolled over to go back to sleep but again another loud bang. This time a Frenchman in a canal barge taking lumps out of the harbor wall.

        “It was time I got up anyway.” Having left the place the way I found it I headed off in the morning sun towards Borris. Onward through Ballingrane, Clashganna, Ballykennan to the lovely town of Graiguenamannagh. Again a very suitable place for lunch.

        Here in the harbor of Graiguenamannagh I met with a crew of four who had paddled in their “War Canoe” from Monasterevin.

        This was the biggest canoe I’d ever seen. It comfortably held the four of them and all their equipment. Believe it or not they had a tent with an awning, folding chairs, cooking equipment and food for the week.

        As they left “Graig” they announced they would be in the “Liffey Descent” in September.

        After a nice lunch by the quayside in Graig I traveled on to Tinnehinch,Carriclead and to that gem of a village “St. Mullens.” This had to be the most exquisite place I had paddled into. The river, the scenery, the harbor, the picnic area, the camp spots. It was too gorgeous to pass. I pulled over and took in the views and the magic of the place.

                   I paddled no further.

Willie Redmond                                                         

August 2000        

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