Thank you Ruairi & Olivia for sharing.
News from Irish Hotel Barge Shannon Princess
Cruising Ireland with local produce & handcrafted products
Our love of fresh, organic produce and local handmade goods means that we carefully source the suppliers that we use while cruising Ireland on our luxury barge. Nestled along the River Shannon are a myriad of local organic farms and artisan companies.
From farmhouse cheese to toiletries, each of our suppliers hand crafts their product and we are delighted to use them on board the Shannon Princess.
Cheese
We have a good variety of cheeses to serve to our guests and three of them originate from local cheese makers in the region.
Cais na Tire is located in Terryglass and is an award winning, family run, cheese making business. They allow their ewes to roam freely around the pastures of their lush farm, ensuring that their appetising, hand made sheep’s cheese is packed full of flavour.
The limestone pasture at the foot of the Slieve Bloom Mountains, County Offaly, provides perfect grazing for the cows at Mossfield Organic another of our cheese suppliers. From crumbly to creamy textures, the delicious taste is always well received.
Vegetables
We select our vegetables from both Killaloe Farmers market & Portumna Castle Gardens. We love the abundance of organic produce available from both of these outlets. The vegetables are always fresh because they are picked and sold on the same day.
We always choose organic produce to ensure that the quality of the vegetables have not been compromised during the growing stage.
Meat
Sustainable farming is at the heart of John Stone, our supplier of meat produce. Their farmers use environmentally produced feed for their cattle and this results in a wealth of health benefits.
Their grass-fed herd are provided with a healthy and varied diet
throughout the year, which results in meat with a unique and delicious
flavour.
Shellfish
We select our shellfish from Liscannor Shellfish, Co. Clare. We are very lucky in Ireland to have a coastline that is rich in both the quality and variety of seafood, especially along the west coast of the country. Our shellfish is always fresh, caught and served on the same day for optimum flavour.
Wine
Some of the most frequent questions we are asked about on board the Shannon Princess, are about our wine list! Wines Direct in Mullingar are a local company who stock a fantastic selection of wine. We are able to choose wines from all over the world and each bottle we serve is perfectly matched to accompany our cuisine of the day.
Liqueurs & Spirits
Whether you want a night cap or an aperitif, we have a good selection of liqueurs and spirits on board the Shannon Princess. Two of our most popular drinks are created in Knockanore, Co. Waterford The award winning Muldoon Irish Whiskey is a big favourite with our guests, due to its luxurious toffee and hazelnut flavour.
Their signature gin, Thin Gin, is also an award winning spirit with just the right balance of herbs, spices and fruits. The refreshing, unique taste is perfect for sipping out on deck while watching the sun set over the River Shannon.
Chocolates
We know that our guests are conscious of eating healthily but we recommend they indulge just a little by tasting chocolate created by Aine Handmade Chocolates.
The handmade products created at this small business are renowned for their quality and taste. Their use of fresh fruit and herbs enables them to create seasonal chocolate collections which are a real treat for the senses.
Rainforest friendly toiletries
We want our guests to be pampered on board the Shannon Princess and our hand made soap comes from Palm Free Irish Soap in Killaloe. With vast amounts of precious rainforest being decimated to make way for palm oil plantations, they have created a suitable alternative that doesn’t use palm oil in its production.
Crystal clear, filtered, Irish rainwater combine with skin loving butters and oils which results in a selection of soaps which not only look good, they smell divine too.
Rugs
The rugs & throws located throughout the barge are handcrafted at Foxford Mills in Co. Mayo. Dating back to 1891, the mill is steeped in history and in the late 19th century, was an important source of employment in the region. Having been rebuilt in 1942, after a fire decimated the factory, the company is now a thriving mill, where talented craftspeople create beautiful pieces.
Cruising Ireland
Our cruise is a celebration of Ireland. A combination of beautiful scenery along the River Shannon, the lovely towns and villages we visit and the local produce we use that has enabled us to gain a reputation for fantastic food. For more information on our gourmet meals see our food and wine pages.
Thanks again...
Irish Hotel Barge Shannon Princess - Barging River Cruises In Ireland
The Irish Hotel Barge Shannon Princess is a very popular barge and they book up quickly. Their 2018 season was fully booked by the end of January.
The Shannon Princess
The
Shannon Princess has been thoughtfully designed throughout. The barge's
inviting interior makes a charming floating living space – a perfect
‘Home away from Home’ for guests to enjoy. The welcoming atmosphere is
enhanced by Ruairi and Olivia’s love of antiquities, crafts, pottery and
art with many works by established and local Irish artists. On board
the barge a friendly & relaxed mood has been created by
carefully mixing casual informality with quality service.
The
Shannon Princess provides accommodation for up to 10 guests in 5 cabins
which can be configured as double or twins, each with ensuite
facilities. This barge is owner-operated with a total of five
professional crew in attendance.You will be charmed with excellent but
friendly service, gorgeous food & wines, and share in a slice of
local life and knowledge.
Cruise Highlights
During
your cruise, there is a program of fascinating excursions that will you
give you a true immersion into the heritage and traditions of this part
of Ireland, such as a personal tour of a castle by its eccentric owner,
a birds of prey display, visits to a whiskey distillery and
hand-weaving workshop and, of course, the chance to sample a pint or two
of the ‘black stuff’ – Guinness.
- Tour the legendary 6th century Clonmacnoise ruins
- Full day excursion to Portumna Castle and Galway
- Traditional Guinness and oyster lunch
- Visit the unusual haunted Leap Castle
- Tour Birr Castle’s Gardens and Science Centre
- Visit the Craggaunowen Re-Creation Project
- Tour of the Kilbeggan Whiskey Distillery with a private tasting
- Visit a traditional Irish hand-weaving workshop
- Hear traditional Irish music
- Excellent walking and fishing opportunities
