Step on board one of our modern, clean, safe and comfortable passenger boats, in their idyllic setting on the shores of Lough Derg, Ireland’s pleasure lake with its breath-taking views of Counties Clare and Tipperary, Killaloe River Cruises provide sight-seeing tours on Ireland’s finest waterway, the River Shannon. The views from our purpose built cruise boats offer the best opportunity to explore and capture the River Shannon, its wildlife and spectacular scenery. Both of our boats depart from the quay on Lakeside Drive, Ballina Killaloe. The towns have been awarded the heritage town status because of their rich and historic past. Killaloe/Ballina offers a wide variety of shops, boutiques and walking trails. Later you can stop off at the restaurants and bars each with its own brand of cuisine and fine pints. Killaloe River Cruises have been in operation from Killaloe/Ballina since the year 1999. James Whelan the owner of both boats has worked in the boat hire business since 1991. His father who owns Whelan’s Foodstore in the town decided to start hiring boats as people were constantly inquiring in the shop as to the possibility of taking in the local scenery. James first started with a small 12 seater passenger boat that was purchased in Dingle Co. Kerry and then brought to Killaloe and called the “Brian Boru”. In the year 2000 a new 50 seater passenger boat called the “Spirit of Killaloe” was acquired. It was launched on the 27th of May 2000 by Sheila de Valera Minister for the Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands. In 2004 James was joined by his girlfriend Aoife. The couple bought their second passenger boat in March 2010, the Spirit of Lough Derg. “We offer a quality, value, local tourism experience that will delight you, your family and friends”.
