The Shannon Ferry links Killimer in Co. Clare with Tarbert in Co. Kerry. The crossing takes about 25 minutes, with (except in winter) two ferries operating a shuttle service. It cost Eu.6 return per person.

We had originally planned a tour of Kerry. Inconveniently, Shannon Airport is in Co. Clare. Short of taking a prohibitively expensive private plane to Kerry Airport (at Farranfore, midway between Tralee and Killarney), there is no avoiding cycling through Clare, and going to Kerry either by way of Limerick, or, as we chose, the Shannon Ferry. And anyway, we grew to like Clare, despite its gravel-pit minor roads, as will be revealed later. So it became a tour of the areas of the two counties which lie close to the Shannon estuary: hence Tour of Shannon 2004.

There are two power stations on the Shannon here. One on the Clare shore at Money Point, just west of Killimer; the other on Tarbert Island, in Kerry. The ferry slipway is on the east side of Tarbert Island, around the point from and out of sight of the power station.

At first we just sat and enjoyed the rest and the breeze. Then we saw a movement in the water not far from the boat. Soon we were spotting scores of dolphins on the upstream side, their dorsal fins arcing through the air too fast for my camera. (This sight is not guaranteed by the way. We were disappointed on our way back a few days later. And no refund on the fare.)