Welcome to our page!
Welcoming visitors to the page and providing information about the IWAI Lough Derg Branch Events and catchment area.
Special Welcome for New Members!
Dear New Members,
We warmly welcome you as a visitor or member of the Lough Derg Branch of IWAI, our community of passionate boating enthusiasts. We are thrilled to have you on board and eager to get to know you. As a new member, we want to ensure you feel included and informed about our upcoming events and activities. There will be many events, some large and some small. To get an overview of events on the lake both IWAI, and non-IWAI, check out our Events Calendar 2025 below.
Once again, welcome to the Lough Derg Branch of IWAI. We’re excited to have you in our community and look forward to sharing many wonderful boating experiences!
Brendan McGrath
IWAI Lough Derg Chairperson
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Our Signature Event: The Annual Lough Derg Rally
We invite you to join our famous annual Lough Derg rally this year from the 5th to the 13th of July 2025, an event you won’t want to miss! Rally booking information will go live on our website as soon as it is ready on the page IWAI Lough Derg Rallies. During the rally, we’ll navigate various harbours and run competitions and training events allowing you to meet members from different branches who will likely become familiar faces to you on the water.
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Branch Committee
Our committee comprises passionate individuals committed to making your membership experience enjoyable. We hold regular branch meetings throughout the year, and strive to run safe and enjoyable events and trainings for members. All members are welcome, indeed encouraged to come along!
Meet your IWAI Lough Derg Branch Committee:
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- Brendan McGrath (Chairperson)
- Brian Leahy (Honorary Branch Secretary)
- Dave Saunders (Branch Treasurer)
- Wendy McGrath (Public Relations Officer)
- Brendan McGrath & Les Saunders (Council Representatives)
- Brendan McGrath (Safety Officer)
- Carmel Byrne & Wendy Bentley Kearney (Child Protection Officers)
- Donna O’Shea (Membership Officer)
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Ways to get in touch:
- Should you need to reach any of the committee members, please send an email to loughderg@iwai.ie.
- We encourage you to join our Lough Derg Announcements WhatsApp group to stay updated on branch-related activities. This is where we’ll share information about planned changes, impromptu events, event itineraries, and other branch-related news. Scan the QR code with your smartphone displayed on the sidebar to receive messages from the IWAI Lough Derg Branch Committee.
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The Derg Branch Catchment Area
The Lough Derg catchment area is a breathtakingly beautiful region that spans several counties in Ireland, namely Limerick, Clare, Tipperary, Galway, and Offaly. The journey begins at Meelick, where the borders of Tipperary, Offaly, and Galway meet. It takes you downstream to Lough Derg and Portumna Bridge, heading south on the Derg to Killaloe/Ballina. Stop at beautiful and well-equipped harbours to enjoy many fine pubs, restaurants and cafes. Exiting Lough Derg, you can continue under the Killaloe bridge to Parteen Weir and the Guillotine gate. Moving further down the river, you’ll reach the Headrace area stretching to Cloonlara Bridge and passing under O’Briens Bridge.
One of the journey’s highlights is just after the Blackwater Bridge, where you’ll witness the spectacular drop lock at the Ardnacrusha Power Station. This impressive structure descends through two chambers, the first dropping 70ft and the second dropping another 30ft, before entering the Tailrace area on the lock’s south side. The remaining part of the navigation is subject to tidal changes impacting air and depth drafts. Careful planning and caution are advised past this point.
Shortly after the Tailrace, the navigation leaves the Shannon River at the Shannon Railway Bridge that links Limerick with Ennis. You’ll then travel along the Abbey River, passing Kings Island and under O’Dwyers Bridge, the Abbey Bridge, Baal’s Bridge, and the Matthew Bridge. Finally, you’ll reach an iron footbridge known locally as the Blue Bridge, where the navigation re-enters the Shannon River. Pontoons are located on the Abbey River at Georges Quay, adjacent to Barrington’s Hospital.
The journey through the Lough Derg catchment area ends at the Sarsfield Bridge, and the sea lock takes you to the Shannon Estuary next to the Shannon Rowing Club in Limerick City.
Click here to see our catchment area on Google Maps
BE INFORMED – To know about IWAI events and news, join today. IWAI members receive the Inland Waterways News (IWN) published quarterly and mailed to members directly.
