Ballinasloe Official Town Website - All the latest news from Ballinasloe, Co. Galway
  • Home
  • About
    • How to get to Ballinasloe
    • Contact
    • History of the Fair
    • Walks and Trails
  • A to Z
    • Remote Working
  • Shops
  • Sports
    • Sports Hub
  • News
  • What's On

BALLINASLOE

News

Derek Crawley's trip to Ballinasloe via the River Suck!

28/7/2022

0 Comments

 
Derek Crawley's Boat in Ballinasloe Marina
Derek Crawley's Boat in Ballinasloe Marina
A keen waterway's enthusiast based in Banagher never took the plunge to chug his craft off the Shannon at Shannonbridge and up the Suck Callows to our town’s Marina as he was advised by River gossip “ Not to”.
​
Derek Crawley took to Facebook to share his adventure on the River Suck and his post received numerous likes, shares and further positive comment from Boating enthusiasts, visitors and interested parties. A summary of his narrative is printed with his permission here:
“Don't go to Ballinasloe,” Is what they said to me. I have a boat and it is based in Banagher and over the years with even rental boats I never ventured up the river Suck. The reason, people put me off doing so was with comments like, you won't make it under the bridge, or there is nothing to see or do when you get to town”.

In fantastic sunshine, I decided to go to Ballinasloe via the River Suck to stay over on Friday night. We set off at 4:30pm with a plan to make the Poolboy lock around 7:30 -8pm. We got there at 7:45pm and the lock keeper was gone. I looked at the IWAI web site and it said it is open to 8:30pm weekdays. We called the number, no answer.

A fisherman on the bank made a phone call and within two minutes, the lock keeper came and without hesitation or moaning let us through. He did tell us that the times had changed and that there were notices, but I am not really on social platforms a lot to benefit from those updates. A nice guy, and a nice fisherman that went out of their way for which we are very thankful for.

The keeper told us that it might be a bit late to get food by the time we got to the Marina and suggested giving Brewery Lane Pub a call, they were good and so we did. The girl who answered was asked if we could book dinner for three people, but she explained that the Kitchen was closing, as it was now nearly 8:50pm. We said that “we were coming up the river and know we are a bit late”.

TThere was a slight silence and then she said “she would keep the kitchen open and ask the chef to stay’. I consider myself lucky to be a well-travelled person and I am struggling to remember a place in Ireland or abroad with people that have been as accommodating.

We had a great night in Ballinasloe, food was fantastic, service was excellent and to top it off there was entertainment downstairs in the Brewery Lane Pub. What was to be a respectful early night went on until 1am.
Next morning, we walked up to the town (which is stunning during the day) and found a lovely little café to have breakfast which was nice, and the staff were too. We went to the market, had a look around, chatted with the local vendors who were all nice to visitors and had a great time.

"I think it's important to acknowledge and say thanks when someone, some group or a town makes such an effort. People are always quick to complain I find, but never take the time to just recognise effort and you can see it when you go to Ballinasloe, how clean it is, how nice the people are, it has it all.

"Do go to Ballinasloe, is what I have already said to people, and I will be back to stay over and enjoy it again.” stated Derek Crawley.

It’s always nice to get a good review about our town Coyne responded with ‘Lock keeper Rory is a lovely guy and so helpful. It’s a lesson to you to not listen to other people and have your own adventure.’  Elizabeth Powell originally from Ballinasloe but now living in the UK echoed those views with her own comment “What lovely comments about Ballinasloe. A fresh pair of eyes and a lovely perspective.” 
Derek Crawley
"Do go to Ballinasloe" says Derek Crawley now!
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    BACK

    RSS Feed

    CLICK HERE to read the Latest Ballinasloe News Articles

    If you have you any news - 
    email us!
    ​

    Archives

    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015

The Town Team was set up by BACD Ltd. to revive the fortunes of Ballinasloe and its hinterland. With the main focus to build on the town’s many strengths, change existing negative perceptions and bring about measurable improvements in the town centre economy and its wider social value.
Contact Us
Service Directory
Homepage
Links
How to get to Ballinasloe
Privacy Statement
Sitemap
Latest Ballinasloe Death Notices
Picture
Ballinasloe Area Community Development Ltd.
Ballinasloe Enterprise Centre 
Creagh
Ballinasloe
Co. Galway

Email
All generic photos and images have been sourced and are free of copyright or are clip art images free of copyright.  Photos of Ballinasloe have been donated by BEC.  If you have any photos that you would like included on the website please email us
Copyright © All rights reserved, 2022 BACD 
  • Home
  • About
    • How to get to Ballinasloe
    • Contact
    • History of the Fair
    • Walks and Trails
  • A to Z
    • Remote Working
  • Shops
  • Sports
    • Sports Hub
  • News
  • What's On