
Little Island is a completely protected anchorage and, if one had to endure an extreme weather event, this should be one of the area’s first choices. The wide, unhindered and well-marked Waterford Harbour estuary provides straightforward access night or day, and at any stage of the tide. The helm should prepare for both strong and deflecting currents as the Suir diverges and converges around Little Island.
Keyfacts for Little Island
Facilities
Nature
Considerations
Protected sectors
Approaches
Shelter
Last modified
January 27th 2021 Summary
A completely protected location with straightforward access.Facilities
Nature
Considerations
Position and approaches
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Haven position
This is situated to the north of the mainland ferry slip and is the most charted anchorage in the King’s Channel.
What is the initial fix?
The following Little Island Western Channel Initial Fix will set up a final approach:

What are the key points of the approach?
Offshore details are available in southeastern Ireland’s coastal overview for Rosslare Harbour to Cork Harbour
. Seaward approaches, along with the run up the harbour, are covered in the Port of Waterford
entry.
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 Little Island for your convenience.
Ten nearest havens by straight line charted distance and bearing:
- Port of Waterford - 1.8 nautical miles WNW
- Cheekpoint - 2.9 nautical miles ENE
- Seedes Bank - 3 nautical miles E
- Buttermilk Point - 3.1 nautical miles ENE
- Passage East - 3.5 nautical miles E
- Ballyhack - 3.6 nautical miles E
- Arthurstown - 4.1 nautical miles E
- Duncannon - 5 nautical miles ESE
- Creadan Head - 5.8 nautical miles SE
- Dollar Bay - 6.5 nautical miles ESE
These havens are ordered by straight line charted distance and bearing, and can be reordered by compass direction or coastal sequence:
- Port of Waterford - 1.8 miles WNW
- Cheekpoint - 2.9 miles ENE
- Seedes Bank - 3 miles E
- Buttermilk Point - 3.1 miles ENE
- Passage East - 3.5 miles E
- Ballyhack - 3.6 miles E
- Arthurstown - 4.1 miles E
- Duncannon - 5 miles ESE
- Creadan Head - 5.8 miles SE
- Dollar Bay - 6.5 miles ESE
Chart
What's the story here?

Image: Michael Harpur
Little Island divides the River Suir 2 miles west of its confluence with the Barrow and the same distance below the city of Waterford. Situated 13 miles within Waterford Harbour, and encircled north and south by the Suir’s Queen’s and King’s Channels, the small, 420-acre triangular island remains a delightful, largely rural location.

Image: Burke Corbett
At the island’s western end, where the King’s and Queen’s Channels reunite, there is a quiet and very secure anchorage out of the strongest tides, with excellent mud holding in depths of 3 to 5 metres.
How to get in?

Image: Michael Harpur
There is no marked channel to pass from the Queen’s Channel down the west side of Little Island. Both sides are shoal out to 200 metres so this is not a place to cut corners, but come to the initial fix and round up hard for the centre of the entrance.

Image: Michael Harpur

Image: Burke Corbett
This is immediately south of the shallow Dirty Tail area extending from the western mainland shore, midway between the mainland and island shorelines. Excellent mud holding will be found here.
The island is linked to the mainland by a private ferry, which operates across King’s Channel between Ballinakill and the island’s west side. Charts typically mark the traditional anchorage off the western shore just north of this ferry crossing point and clear of local moorings.

Image: Michael Harpur
Care should be taken when approaching this anchorage to keep well off Little Island’s extreme western point. A rocky ledge called Golden Rock dries off to a distance of 100 metres from here. Pass this danger by aligning on the mainland ferry terminal and passing close to port of the Dirty Tail starboard-hand buoy, keeping in depths of no less than 5 metres.

Image: Michael Harpur
The best and most convenient anchoring positions around Little Island are to the north of the ferry. But it is possible to continue south to find alternative anchoring positions in the King’s Channel beyond the ferry, though there is no further buoyage beyond this point.

Image: Michael Harpur
To the south of the ferry, the shores begin to converge, narrowing the channel. Depths here are in excess of 18 metres. Immediately beyond these narrows, approximately halfway between the ferry and the island’s southern extremity, there is the dangerous and unmarked Maulus Rock. This pinnacle rock is situated 40 metres off the western mainland shore and has 0.3 metres to a metre over it, nearly drying at low water. It obstructs the western third of the channel at this point, leaving a distance of 90 metres between it and the island, with 3.2 metres of water. The island side of a central path passes Maulus Rock to starboard.

Image: Michael Harpur
Immediately south of the Maulus Rock area, at the southwest corner of Little Island, is another possibility to anchor in 3 to 4 metres.
Continuing along the King’s Channel and rounding the southern corner presents more anchoring opportunities. Keep well off the southern extremity of the island as it is foul, drying out to 100 metres. There is a clear channel along the south side of the bight, close to the edge of the mainland’s mud.
A good anchorage will be found when proceeding northeast from the corner, just off the southeast corner, in 3 to 5 metres of water, likewise at about midway up the eastern side of the island opposite the Saltings.
Why visit here?
The diminutive Little Island, positioned just a couple of miles downriver of Waterford City and encircled by the River Suir, enjoys a setting of idyllic seclusion, with the convenience of the city within a 10-minute drive.
Image: Public Domain
It was then taken over by the Vikings, who held the island between the 9th and 11th centuries. During this time it was referred to as Dane’s Island or Island Vryk. They built fortifications upon the island’s northern and southern extremities to guard the river approaches to Waterford. There is, however, no remaining trace of either fort today.
In 1170 the Norman invasion of Ireland started in earnest, with the main landings within a few miles of Little Island. The Earl of Pembroke, Richard de Clare, known as Strongbow, led the conquest with Raymond FitzGerald, nicknamed Le Gros, second in command. Advancing from Strongbow’s landing position of Passage East, he quickly conquered Waterford City and subsequently Leinster, and then all of the country.

Image: Public Domain
The first structure he built on the island was a Norman keep. This was a tower-like, stone structure with thick walls, arrow-slit windows and a lead roof. At that time the keep would have been the virtually impregnable core of any defensive battle. However, by the 15th century, the original keep had fallen into such condition as to be unhabitable. A new, small tower (the centre part of the present castle) was then constructed on the site of the old keep. This period – the 15th and 16th centuries – was to be the seminal moment for the FitzGerald family. During this time they were the kings of Ireland in all but name, and the newly constructed Little Island tower would have hosted many feasts and banquets, with the fate of the nation being decided within its walls.

Image: Michael Harpur
Over the years this tower was gradually expanded to be the Waterford Castle that can be seen today. Firstly in 1849, by John Fitzgerald, and subsequently in 1875 and 1895, when the east and west wings were added. Built entirely of stone, these additions are now almost indistinguishable from the older structure. Up until the present century the castle retained its original arrow-slit windows, giving a fortress-like exterior – but a rather dark uncomfortable interior. The Island and castle remained in the FitzGerald name until 1958.

Image: Michael Harpur
Then the Igo Family of Rhodesia bought the property and installed a five-acre horticultural glasshouse complex from which they produced fruits and flowers. A chain-link ferry was set up between the island and the mainland around this time. In 1978 a local pedigree dairy farmer rented the land and later bought the Island. Finally, in 1988, it started its current role as the small luxury hotel Waterford Castle, and the island became its grounds. The grounds have since been converted into a golf course.

Image: Burke Corbett
Today Little Island continues to be a rural idyll, with a castle, its grounds and a golf course contained within its 170 hectares. Access to the island is via the self-propelled wire-guided private car ferry, installed in 2008, which crosses the King’s Channel between Ballinakill and the island’s west side. This ferry crosses every 10 minutes and the journey takes only a few minutes. On the opposite side a winding tree-lined drive leads up to the grounds of the castle, which remains completely obscured by trees until the end of the driveway is reached. It then majestically appears behind the tree line on the north side of the island overlooking the Queen’s Channel.

Image: Burke Corbett
The small island is easily discovered on foot and it offers plenty of flora and fauna. It is considered a significant site for bird watchers with grey herons, little egrets, wigeons, greenshanks, common sandpipers and common waders, kingfishers and jays in abundance. Domestic pheasants also live on the island, and wildlife such as badgers, deer and the occasional hare will also be encountered by walkers.

Image: Burke Corbett
From a boating perspective, this is truly a lovely, secluded anchorage in a natural setting. All around are fine views of the course of the Suir, and the adjacent counties of Kilkenny and Wexford, flanked by the lofty and picturesque Comeragh Mountains and Slieve Coillte. It is away from the hustle and bustle of Waterford city and yet, being only a couple of miles downstream, the city is easily accessible for a quick jaunt for lunch or provisions. Tucked into this side-channel upriver there is nothing to disturb a vessel and there is little or no fetch. It is also completely protected from the elements and an excellent place to take shelter during heavy weather. There are, however, talks of a 250-berth marina being built in this location, which may disturb the great natural beauty of the place.
What facilities are available?
There are no facilities at Little Island. There is a very pricey restaurant in the area. Almost everything else will be found in Waterford City, about 10 minutes by car.Any security concerns?
You are most likely to be completely alone at this beach and away from any interference.With thanks to:
Burke Corbett, Gusserane, New Ross, Co. Wexford. Photos with thanks to Michael Harpur, Burke Corbett, Albert Bridge and Kapustowicz.Add your review or comment:
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