Used to live in Athlone and raced dinghies and small sailing cruisers on Lough Ree, the second largest lake on the Shannon, which lies just to the north of the town. Haven't lived there for many years but, coincidentally, was there on a visit last weekend.

The hire cruiser business uses modern motor-cruisers ranging from tiny two-berthers to rather palatial monsters! There are no "narrowboats" in the the British/English sense, as far as I know - they would be very unsuitable for the lakes, in particular.

The main hire centres are in Carrick-on-Shannon, in the north, Athlone in the centre and Portumna in the south - with smaller operations elsewhere.

I have no experience of Lough Erne, unfortunately.

If the idea firms up and you have particular questions, I'll do my best to answer - or reroute them!

Regards