Sneem Harbour is a sheltered anchorage situated on the southwest coast of Ireland and on the north side of the Kenmare River opposite Kilmakilloge. The spacious harbour offers a range of very good anchorages as well as visitor moorings with a choice of quays to land upon in a most picturesque location.

The inner harbour anchorages, in the northwestern arm of Sneem Harbour, affords complete protection. The harbour requires attentive navigation in daylight owing to rocky ledges extending from the islets and the mountains behind them making the shore indistinct at night.

The inner harbour may be accessed from the west side of Sherky Island or from the east side via a southern approach. The latter eastern side or southern approach is the preferred route for first-time visitors.

Keyfacts for Sneem Harbour

Position and approaches

Haven position

51° 48.565' N, 009° 53.750' W

In the Northeast inlet of Garinish Island locally known as ‘The Bag’

What is the initial fix?

This sets up the prefered southern approach to the harbour and lies ¾ of a mile eastward of the highest point of Sherky Island.

What are the key points of the approach?

Not what you need?

To find locations with the specific attributes you need try:

What's the story here?

Sneem Harbour is situated on the Iveragh Peninsula on the north shore of the Kenmare River opposite Ardgroom and Kilmakilloge. It lies on the estuary of the River Sneem and its village, with a population of about 250, stands 1½ miles upriver with a drying quay that may be accessed on the latter half of the tide. The large estuarial harbour below is protected by many islands and has a wide range of anchoring opportunities. The best protection is to be found in the inner harbour between Garinish and Illaunslea islands that lie close off the north shore where Oysterbed Pier with its slipway is located.




Complete protection can be found anchored in the western arm of Sneem Harbour, behind Garinish Island. Four convenient visitors' moorings lie between Oysterbed Pier and Illaunslea in the inner harbour with enough space between them to anchor.




This is a very pretty location that is set on one of the prettiest corners of Ireland that should not be overlooked by a passing coastal cruiser.

How to get in?

Approaches are available in southwestern Ireland’s Coastal Overview for Mizen Head to Loop Head . The location of Sneem Harbour is easily identified by Sherky Island which stands out from the north shore of Kenmare River nearly to the middle of the inlet. It is low lying only attains 33.5 metres at a hummock near its south end and is covered in uncultivated moorland. The islands and rocks in its vicinity provide partial shelter to Sneem Harbour.




The Initial Fix sets up the best approach to Sneem Harbour which is from the south and lies between the 34 metres high Sherky Island on the west side and the 36-metre high Rossdohan Island on the east.

Approach close to the southeast side of Sherky Island taking a middle-to-Sherky Island course up the ¾ mile-wide gap. Then steering 017° T on the Parknasilla Hotel, a large conspicuous Victorian building on the mainland with a pointed tower and surround by trees 1.8 miles away.

Steering this course avoids a rocky reef that extends 400 metres to the southwest of Rossdohan Island's south-westernmost point of Bullig. The ground is foul here with a reef that can have breakers out as far as the 20-metre contour even in a moderate swell.


When north of Inishkeragh Island, the third island on the easter/port side (they appear in the following order Sherky, Illaunanadan, and Inishkeragh islands) steer about 318° T on the northeastern extreme of Garinish Island to make for the inner harbour located in the northwestern corner of Sneem Harbour. This is to avoid a drying reef with an outlying awash rock that lies approximately 250 metres southwest of Illaunslea.

An aquafarm will be passed when approaching Garinish Island with its northeast limits indicated by an unlit yellow buoy. When closing on Garinish Island alter course to give it a berth of 100 metres when rounding its northeastern corner as there is foul ground all around its shoreline. Then pass midway between Garinish and Illaunslea islands. By this point, the pier wall should become visible between Garinish and Illaunslea islands.

In settled weather vessels approaching from the west can take a more direct route by passing to the northwest of Sherky Island, between it and Inishkeelaghmore Island, and then Potato Island and Inishkeragh. The navigational width between Sherky and Inishkeelaghmore islands is reduced to less than 500 metres by Cottoner Rock which lies 300 metres out to the northwest of about the middle of Sherky Island. This is further reduced in bad weather when breakers will be found more than halfway across the cut. Hence this channel should be avoided unless visibility is excellent, conditions are settled and the helm as the benefit of local knowledge at hand.

Pass between Cottoner Rock, which dries to 0.3 metres, and the grassy rock of Inishkeelaghmore. Inishkeelaghmore is relatively clear on its southeast side so it is best to keep closer to the Inishkeelaghmore side to avoid the Cottoner Rock. There is ample water with depths of no less than 10 meters as far as Potato Island.




Then keep about 200 metres off of Potato Islet situated 400 metres northeast of Inishkeelaghmore - passed on its southeast side or to port. Continue northeastward past Potato Islet passing the submerged rocks called the Murin Patch that extends northeast from Potato Islet. Make note of the reef that lies offshore of Inishkeragh, opposite on the starboard side, extending out 200 metres northwest of the island. It is then safe to steer to the northeast corner of Garinish Island, keeping clear of the mussel farm then proceed to the inner harbour as described.




Once inside the western arm of the harbour a range of excellent berthing opportunities lie within the inner harbour, which affords excellent shelter and good holding in sand.




There is a particularly sheltered anchorage in the small bay on the northeast side of Garinish Island known as The Bag. This offers depths of 2 to 3 metres but the density of local moorings in the north end of the bay keeps a vessel nearer the entrance.




It is also possible to anchor in 6 metres between Goat Island, close north of Garinish Island and Oysterbed Pier on the mainland. This area has a tendency to get wash from traffic going to and from the houses on the island to Oysterbed Pier.




Four seasonal mooring buoys for visiting yachts are laid in the bight in the northeast corner. The moorings are rated to 15 tons and are large, coloured bright yellow and labelled VISITOR.




Land at the western side of Oysterbed Pier where 1.5 metres will always be available although it is not entirely well set up for tethering a dinghy. This is west of the pier and is not immediately apparent from the moorings located off of the pier. Oysterbed Pier has 3 metres at LAT on its southeastern side. Vessels intending on coming alongside should approach at an angle from southward, to clear the shore, and reverse out.




It is possible to travel upriver to Sneem village 2½ hours after low water. There is a Quay on the east side 300 metres south of the village.




Alternatively, in settled weather conditions, it is possible to anchor in the harbour's outer northeast bight to the north of Rossdohan Island and southeastward of the concrete beacons marking the dangers in the centre of the bay. Keep well to the southeast of the outer Carrignaror (Seal Rock) Fl 5s and the inner beacon is unlit beacon 600 metres east by northeast. Be aware there is an awash rock that steps out from a line adjoining these two beacons that it would be best not to awake its slumber. It is located a ⅓ of a mile and almost due south from the hotel. Stand well of all the shores of this bight are fringed by off-lying rocks. Steer between Carrignarone and Rossdohan Island, keeping in depths greater than 5 metres until a favourable anchorage is found usually in the area to the southeast of the inner beacon in depths of 5 to 7 metres.




This anchorage is nearer the Parknasilla Hotel. A vessel anchored in this location is welcome to land at a pier owned by Parknasilla Hotel to the southeast of the hotel - smart casual dress attire is required to have refreshments, lunch or dine at the hotel. This said it is best to land on the beach outside of the quay. It is also possible to land at the Rossdohan pier and slip but there are no facilities anywhere nearby.

Why visit here?

Sneem, in Irish 'An tSnaidhm' takes its name directly from the Gaelic word 'snaidhm', pronounced 'snime', and it means a 'knot'.




This is universally understood in the neighbourhood and records from bygone times say that the place got its name from a roundish, grass-covered rock, rising over a beautiful cascade in the river below the bridge, where the fresh water and the saltwater meet. When the tide is in, this rock presents the appearance of a 'snaidhm', 'knot', over the stream. The name is also believed to have been derived in later times when the bridge above it was built to bring the village together.




In the early part of the 1800s, Sneem consisted of the harbour, a collection of houses, a church, a chapel and a constabulary police force. The harbour had oyster tanks installed at this time, hence the name of the pier, and by the 1880s mussel beds also began to appear. The village then slowly grew around a picturesque green on which today stands a statue to the local hero Steve 'Crusher' Casey. 'Crusher' was the undefeated heavyweight wrestling champion of the world from 1938 to 1947. Memorials are a leitmotif of Sneem and tere is another lifesize bronze statue of John Egan, one of the legendary Kerry Gaelic footballers of the 1970s and 1980s, overlooking the sports field in the South Square. A commemorative stone marks a most unexpected regular visitor, albeit not by boat, the former French President Charles de Gaulle. He was enthralled by the legacy of Daniel O’Connell and his home of Derrynane is located nearby. So de Gaulle stayed here and regularly walked Derrynane Beach during his stays here.




Although De Gaulle stayed at the more secluded adjacent Reenafura, it is the magnificent Parknasilla Hotel that has drawn many other world celebrities to Sneem. This and the benefits that the Gulf Stream bring with its (comparably) warm climate that allows subtropical plants to flourish was a big draw during Victorian times. Most notably amongst the hotel's visitors was George Bernard Shaw who regularly visited the hotel in the early 1900s and he wrote some of his most iconic works whilst staying at Parknasilla such as 'St Joan'. Robert Graves, who lived in the Bishops House on the grounds, wrote I Claudius here. Many world-famous celebrities came to stay since including Prince Rainier and Princess Grace of Monaco and their children in the 1960s. The Victorian hotel continues to thrive today set in swathes of subtropical parkland with its on-site spa and a 12-hole golf course.




Tourism remains very important for Sneem to this day. Set on The Ring of Kerry, one of Europe’s great scenic drives and a highlight of the Wild Atlantic Way, coaches bring visitors from all over the world throughout the summer months. It has some downsides as Irish music blasts from the tourist traps and the pretty village has been somewhat diminished by a cluster of new holiday home developments. But Sneem has not lost its charm. It remains as small as ever, with its lively village and brightly coloured houses nestled amid lush subtropical growth, between the sea and the hills. The river still splits the village in two, with its two separate village squares and a picturesque waterfall tumbles towards the harbour below the old stone bridge. It is a worthy jewel of the Ring of Kerry and Sneem Harbour is the perfect base from which to explore this beautiful area.




As such a trip up to Sneem is essential if only to dine out on Sneem's black pudding with chutney which has become a national wonder. The best way is to make it up to the quay, on the east bank of the river about 400 metres short of the village, by tender. The walk is uninteresting and partly along the N70, or calling a taxi is less fun. The river scenery is exceptional and seals also can be seen all the way along the river. It is only accessible at half flood but it is the perfect way to see this picturesque little village. This requires an outboard as it is a half-hour or 1.5-mile trip, without taking any wrong turns, of which many are likely. The covered rocks in the river can usually be made out by patches of weed. But the dingy is also a bit of fun, and a challenge if coming back in the dark to find the boat again. Discovery Ordnance Survey map 84 is recommended plus a hand bearing compass.




If it is peace and quiet that is wanted, the inner harbour is never overly busy and the expansive bay offers several possibilities for finding a quiet spot by oneself. All around will be sunbathing seals, lovely wooded areas, deep swaths of rhododendron bushes, and mussel-covered islands. Truly Sneem is one of the 'must' boating visit locations in the Kerry cruising route and remains little changed from George Bernard Shaw's observation. "It is a place of long sea views and intricate walks between ferns and fuchsias, rock and rhododendron, to burnt out castles lost within the woods and along the various fingers of land that point south West into the warm Atlantic. I tell you this place does not belong to any world that you or have ever worked or lived in ... it is a part of our dream world."




From a boating point of view, Sneem Harbour is safe in any wind condition with calm peaceful nights amongst in places, most unusual on the West Coast, the joy of having trees coming right down to the water's edge. There is reasonable provisioning available in the village and a good range of options ashore for weather-bound days or those waiting for a favourable weather window for a passage out of Kenmare River.

What facilities are available?

Oysterbed House pier has a water tap. There are reasonable provisions available in Sneem itself which is a good hour or two miles walk up the lane from the Oysterbed Pier. It has a wide selection of pubs, restaurants, and shops but is not ideal for provisioning and it is best to arrive well stocked and only consider it a top-up location.

The national route N70 runs through the town so it has good connections. Buses to Killarney from Sneem (40 minutes) twice daily year-round. From June to September the village hosts a weekly farmers market (Bridge st; 11 am- 4 pm Tuesday).

Parknasilla Hotel is another good dingy run, and it has an excellent restaurant and bar. The staff welcome visitors but ask that you remove all yachting gear when in the hotel.

Any security concerns?

Never a problem known to have occurred in Sneem Harbour.

With thanks to:

Burke Corbett, Gusserane, New Ross, Co. Wexford.