England Ireland Find Havens
England Ireland Find Routes
Boat
Maintenance
Comfort
Operations
Safety
Other








Askeaton is located on the southern shore of the well-marked Shannon estuary on the River Deel tributary, in Co. Limerick on the west coast of Ireland. The entrance to the River Deel is approximately thirty miles from the mouth of the River Shannon and is about five miles beyond Foynes Island. It provides a club pontoon and moorings.

Askeaton is located on the southern shore of the well-marked Shannon estuary on the River Deel tributary, in Co. Limerick on the west coast of Ireland. The entrance to the River Deel is approximately thirty miles from the mouth of the River Shannon and is about five miles beyond Foynes Island. It provides a club pontoon and moorings.

Tucked away in the Shannon estuary and further protected up the Deel River, Askeaton provides complete protection from all conditions. However, access requires attentive navigation as it is restricted by draft and not supported by illuminated markers. For those planning a visit from the sea, it is also subject to the challenges of the Shannon currents.
Please note

Bad races may be encountered at the Shannon river entrance during the ebb tide with strong winds from the south through west to northwest. The Deel River channel is only accessible, depending on draft, approximately an hour after low water through to high water.




Be the first
to comment
Keyfacts for Askeaton
Facilities
Top up fuel available in the area via jerry cansMini-supermarket or supermarket availableLaundry facilities availablePublic house or wine bar in the areaCashpoint or bank available in the areaDoctor or hospital in the areaPharmacy in the areaHaul-out capabilities via arrangementBoatyard with hard-standing available here; covered or uncoveredMarine engineering services available in the areaElectronics or electronic repair available in the areaBus service available in the areaRegional or international airport within 25 kilometres


Nature
No fees for anchoring or berthing in this locationMarina or pontoon berthing facilitiesAnchoring locationSailing Club baseUrban nature,  anything from a small town of more 5,000 inhabitants  to a large cityHistoric, geographic or culturally significant location; or in the immediate vicinity

Considerations
Restriction: shallow, drying or partially drying pierNote: strong tides or currents in the area that require consideration

Protected sectors

Current wind over the protected quadrants
Minimum depth
2 metres (6.56 feet).

Approaches
3 stars: Attentive navigation; daylight access with dangers that need attention.
Shelter
5 stars: Complete protection; all-round shelter in all reasonable conditions.



Last modified
May 16th 2018

Summary* Restrictions apply

A completely protected location with attentive navigation required for access.

Facilities
Top up fuel available in the area via jerry cansMini-supermarket or supermarket availableLaundry facilities availablePublic house or wine bar in the areaCashpoint or bank available in the areaDoctor or hospital in the areaPharmacy in the areaHaul-out capabilities via arrangementBoatyard with hard-standing available here; covered or uncoveredMarine engineering services available in the areaElectronics or electronic repair available in the areaBus service available in the areaRegional or international airport within 25 kilometres


Nature
No fees for anchoring or berthing in this locationMarina or pontoon berthing facilitiesAnchoring locationSailing Club baseUrban nature,  anything from a small town of more 5,000 inhabitants  to a large cityHistoric, geographic or culturally significant location; or in the immediate vicinity

Considerations
Restriction: shallow, drying or partially drying pierNote: strong tides or currents in the area that require consideration



Position and approaches
Expand to new tab or fullscreen

Haven position

52° 37.218' N, 008° 59.307' W

The head fo the pontoon at Massy's Quay.

What are the initial fixes?

The following waypoints will set up a final approach:

(i) Deel River Entrance Initial Fix

52° 38.609' N, 009° 0.572' W

200 metres to the northwest of the River Deel tributary entrance.

(ii) Shannon Entrance Initial Fix

52° 32.528' N, 009° 46.944' W

This is the position of the Shannon Entrance marker, the Ballybunnion North Cardinal Marker Lt Buoy, VQ Fl. 6m.
Please note

Initial fixes only set up their listed targets. Do not plan to sail directly between initial fixes as a routing sequence.




What are the key points of the approach?

Offshore details are available in southwestern Ireland’s Coastal Overview for Mizen Head to Loop Head Route location. The forty-three-mile run-up the River Shannon, from the entrance to Limerick City, are detailed in the River Shannon Overview Route location.


Not what you need?
Click the 'Next' and 'Previous' buttons to progress through neighbouring havens in a coastal 'clockwise' or 'anti-clockwise' sequence. Below are the ten nearest havens to Askeaton for your convenience.
Ten nearest havens by straight line charted distance and bearing:
  1. Foynes Harbour - 4.6 nautical miles W
  2. Limerick Docks - 12.7 nautical miles E
  3. Kilrush - 18.5 nautical miles W
  4. Hog Island - 18.5 nautical miles W
  5. Doonbeg - 21.2 nautical miles WNW
  6. Seafield (Quilty) - 21.5 nautical miles WNW
  7. Mutton Island - 22.1 nautical miles WNW
  8. Liscannor Bay - 23.9 nautical miles NW
  9. Kilkee - 24.4 nautical miles W
  10. Carrigaholt Bay - 25.9 nautical miles W
These havens are ordered by straight line charted distance and bearing, and can be reordered by compass direction or coastal sequence:
  1. Foynes Harbour - 4.6 miles W
  2. Limerick Docks - 12.7 miles E
  3. Kilrush - 18.5 miles W
  4. Hog Island - 18.5 miles W
  5. Doonbeg - 21.2 miles WNW
  6. Seafield (Quilty) - 21.5 miles WNW
  7. Mutton Island - 22.1 miles WNW
  8. Liscannor Bay - 23.9 miles NW
  9. Kilkee - 24.4 miles W
  10. Carrigaholt Bay - 25.9 miles W
To find locations with the specific attributes you need try:

Resources search

Chart
Please use our integrated Navionics chart to appraise the haven and its approaches. Navionics charts feature in premier plotters from B&G, Raymarine, Magellan and are also available on tablets. Open the chart in a larger viewing area by clicking the expand to 'new tab' or the 'full screen' option.

Expand to new tab or fullscreen



How to get in?
Deel Boat Club Pontoon at Massy's Quay, Askeaton
Image: Wind Watcher


Five miles above Foynes Island Askeaton is a town built on the banks of the River Deel about two miles upstream from the estuary of the River Shannon. Deel Boat Club provides a club pontoon and moorings about halfway along the river.


Beeves Rock
Image: Burke Corbett


Convergance Point The 30-mile run-up the River Shannon where the from the entrance to Limerick City are detailed in the River Shannon Overview Route location. After Aughinish Island the key marker that will assist in locating the Deal River entrance is the distinctive Beeves Rock lighthouse upon Sheehan Rock.

Beeves Rock - Fl.WR 5s12m 12/9M - position: 52° 39.016’N, 009° 01.320’W

Initial fix location Beeves Rock lighthouse will be visible from Aughinish Island and the above listed ‘Deel River Entrance’ initial fix places you approximately midway between Beeves Rock lighthouse and the Deel River entrance.

The entrance to the River Deel is on the southern shore marked by a red and white perch with a weak flashing light. This is a private marker maintained by the boat club that does not conform to any navigation standards. The channel afterwards is marked by five-gallon drums. Although there is a light on the entrance, the river cut is not a place to attempt at night unless you have been there before a few times by day and seen it at low water.

The run up to the pontoon from the entrance
Image: Wind Watcher


It is important to be certain of the approach as there are unmarked rocks on either side of the entrance, Carrigeenavaun on the starboard and Weavers Rock to port, where the perch is situated. You will also pass Horse Rock and Wide Rock off Courtbrown Point as you go upstream. These are only visible at half tide and you would not see them at high water so a good chart is essential - Admiralty chart 1549.

Channel and markers as seen at low water
Image: Burke Corbett


The channel has LWS 1.7 metres, it is shallow and winding but marked with red port hand marker five-gallon drums. If you stray off the line you will find it shelves steeply onto mudbanks that may not present much danger to the vessel. However, on a falling tide, it could get very messy.


Approaching the Deel Boat Club pontoon
Image: Burke Corbett


Haven location You will first approach a set of moorings by the fishing boats and small yachts and a deeper hole-up where the yachts are moored. Likewise, slightly further up at the club pontoon, there appear to be two metres in mud at LWS. There are no facilities at the pontoon.

If you contact a boat club member or Cyril from the boatyard they can organise a key to the boat club jetty, but make a note to return the courtesy with a touch of generosity.


Why visit here?
Askeaton, Eas Géitine in Irish in Irish meaning Waterfall of Géitine, also historically spelt Askettin, is one of the oldest towns in County Limerick.

Situated on the banks of the River Deel, with an ancient bridge of five arches connecting the opposite sides of the town, it boasts many historic structures. There is a Franciscan Friary in the town dating from 1389 where you may find an almost perfectly preserved cloister within the friary ruins.

The Friary remains one of the most complete ruins in Ireland
Image: Askeaton Mike via CC ASA 4.0


The castle of the Fitzgerald lords, set on a rocky island in the river Deel, dates from 1199. The castle was defended by the Spanish during the Desmond Rebellions. It was finally abandoned to the English crown forces in 1580 after the fall of Carrigafoyle Castle. The fleeing Spanish defenders blew out its walls as part of a tactical retreat. As a stronghold, it remained a threat to the English Crown in Ireland until the Castle was finally destroyed by Cromwellian forces in 1652. The banqueting hall within the castle is very well preserved and of great historic value. Additionally, you can find the ruins of a 13th-century church where the remains of the poet Aubrey de Vere are buried.

From a boating perspective, Askeaton's primarily attractive to boatmen for its safe berth and excellent repair facilities. But a town of more than five centuries history has its own allures making the short walk very worthwhile. The River Deel was once a good source for salmon fishing but is now mainly fished for brown trout.


What facilities are available?
Asketon's prime attraction is its fully equipped boatyard with specialist services, including GRP repairs and crane. It is one of the most competent, helpful and friendly boatyards in the area. You may have to wait for enough water to come alongside the boatyard but the facilities are excellent.

Askeaton town is a thirty minutes walk where you will find basic provisions plus a restaurant. The town is located on the N69 with good contacts to the surrounding area and an infrequent bus service to Limerick.


Any security concerns?
There are no known problems in this rural area.


With thanks to:
Burke Corbett, Gusserane, New Ross, Co. Wexford.





Massy's Quay Pontoon, Askeaton at low water
Image: eOceanic thanks Burke Corbett




The River Deel Askeaton Co Limerick



A photograph is worth a thousand words. We are always looking for bright sunny photographs that show this haven and its identifiable features at its best. If you have some images that we could use please upload them here. All we need to know is how you would like to be credited for your work and a brief description of the image if it is not readily apparent. If you would like us to add a hyperlink from the image that goes back to your site please include the desired link and we will be delighted to that for you.


Add your review or comment:

Please log in to leave a review of this haven.



Please note eOceanic makes no guarantee of the validity of this information, we have not visited this haven and do not have first-hand experience to qualify the data. Although the contributors are vetted by peer review as practised authorities, they are in no way, whatsoever, responsible for the accuracy of their contributions. It is essential that you thoroughly check the accuracy and suitability for your vessel of any waypoints offered in any context plus the precision of your GPS. Any data provided on this page is entirely used at your own risk and you must read our legal page if you view data on this site. Free to use sea charts courtesy of Navionics.