Canoeing Down The Barrow River

Published in The Sunday Independant

River canoeing down the River Barrow to St Mullins

Martin O'Brien, St Mullins, Co Carlow

* I WAS one of those who spent the whole year planning the summer holiday out of Ireland - guaranteed sunshine, late nights, the wild life.

Year after year, we headed off to Spain or France, never giving Ireland a thought as the idea of spending two weeks freezing on a beach with ham sandwiches was just not going to happen.

Then I discovered river canoeing. Ireland opened up for us as we paddled down some amazing rivers, got a look into the old wealth of Ireland from the riverside, camped, stayed in B&Bs, visited villages that we never knew existed. Our favourite run was down the River Barrow to St Mullins, which has a tow path used by the draught horses that pulled the river barges in times gone by. We met fishermen and farmers, walkers and cyclists, all dying for a chat - where did you start out/where are you going? None of them had ever been down the river and you could see the wonder, the dream in their eyes... yes, one day, I will get in a boat.

The River Barrow towpath from Graiguenamanagh to St Mullins is one of the wonders of the world as it passes through lush green farmland, its water thundering over weirs, herons squealing past, and it's all for free. Passing by lime kilns, locks, weirs, and arriving in a land that was ravaged by the Vikings and there still sits proudly on the top of the hill a Norman motte and bailey castle.

It is great to see all the parents arriving in St Mullins, glowing from their day by the river, and the kids full of stories about their adventure, Bicycles line the walls, dogs lap from water bowls, Ahh, but they still want to know if there is wi-fi here.