River Barrow

What is kayaking River Barrow like?

A gentle downstream paddle along Ireland's second-longest river from the medieval market town of Graiguenamanagh, overlooked by 13th-century Duiske Abbey. The Barrow meanders through a lush valley flanked by the Blackstairs Mountains, with kingfishers darting from overhanging willows. Finish at the ancient monastic site of St Mullins where the tidal waters begin.

How do I paddle River Barrow? Put-in, take-out and logistics

The Graiguenamanagh-to-St-Mullins stretch is a short canalised section of the Barrow Navigation between two historic landings. Go With The Flow lists its Clashganny-to-St-Mullins hire at 7.5 km, and Clashganny is upstream of the town, so the stretch from Graiguenamanagh is under 7.5 km. Launch from the town quay beneath Duiske Abbey, a restored Cistercian church founded in 1204 that is still a parish church. The Barrow Way towpath runs beside the river between the two villages. The operators who hire boats here say to keep to the navigation channel on the left of the river, because the weirs and rapids sit on the right. Expect to get out at locks. Waterways Ireland's lock list for this end of the river includes Upper Tinnahinch, Lower Tinnahinch, Carriglead and St Mullins, and Go With The Flow tells hirers to carry their boat round the next 4 locks below Graiguenamanagh. Its marine notice says portage is required at unmanned locks, shooting weirs is prohibited without permission, and canoeists must take extreme care near weirs, sluices, locks and during high flows. Ballykeenan double lock is upstream of the town, not on this stretch.

When is the best time to paddle River Barrow?

Go With The Flow lists its hire for April to October, and we found no published winter hire. St Mullins is the end of the navigation and the tidal limit. Below it the river falls under the Port of New Ross, and Waterways Ireland advises asking its harbour master for tide tables. Take out at the slip in the village, where Mullichain Cafe and the monastery site are a short walk away. You need a way back to Graiguenamanagh, and the hire operators describe lifts and taxis rather than a fixed shuttle, so ask when you book.