
Foynes provides complete protection from all winds and may easily be described as the most sheltered location on the Shannon Estuary. It offers safe access as it is well lit and all dangers are well marked. Although subject to the challenges of the Shannon currents, it can be approached at all points of the tide, night or day. The harbour may be entered either from the west through the preferred main deep water channel or from the northeast by a buoyed channel.
Keyfacts for Foynes Harbour
Facilities
Nature
Considerations
Protected sectors
Approaches
Shelter
Last modified
May 16th 2018 Summary
A completely protected location with safe access.Facilities
Nature
Considerations
Position and approaches
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Haven position
Foynes yacht club pontoon.
What are the initial fixes?
The following waypoints will set up a final approach:(i) Foynes Harbour initial fix

The sets up and approach to the harbour’s preferred western entrance. The initial fix is set on the East Jetty’s leading lights and the 15 metre contour. It is on the in-line alignment of 107.9° that leads through the centre of the channel.
(ii) Shannon Entrance Initial Fix

This is the position of the Shannon Entrance marker, the Ballybunnion North Cardinal Marker Lt Buoy, VQ Fl. 6m.
What are the key points of the approach?
Offshore details are available in southwestern Ireland’s Coastal Overview for Mizen Head to Loop Head
. The forty-three-mile run-up the River Shannon, from the entrance to Limerick City, are detailed in the River Shannon Overview
.
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 Foynes Harbour for your convenience.
Ten nearest havens by straight line charted distance and bearing:
- Askeaton - 4.6 nautical miles E
- Kilrush - 14 nautical miles W
- Hog Island - 14 nautical miles W
- Doonbeg - 17.2 nautical miles WNW
- Limerick Docks - 17.3 nautical miles E
- Seafield (Quilty) - 18 nautical miles NW
- Mutton Island - 18.6 nautical miles NW
- Kilkee - 20 nautical miles WNW
- Carrigaholt Bay - 21.4 nautical miles W
- Liscannor Bay - 21.8 nautical miles NNW
These havens are ordered by straight line charted distance and bearing, and can be reordered by compass direction or coastal sequence:
- Askeaton - 4.6 miles E
- Kilrush - 14 miles W
- Hog Island - 14 miles W
- Doonbeg - 17.2 miles WNW
- Limerick Docks - 17.3 miles E
- Seafield (Quilty) - 18 miles NW
- Mutton Island - 18.6 miles NW
- Kilkee - 20 miles WNW
- Carrigaholt Bay - 21.4 miles W
- Liscannor Bay - 21.8 miles NNW
Chart
How to get in?
Foynes is a village and major port located 22 miles from the mouth and on the southern bank of the River Shannon. Foynes Harbour is situated between Foynes Island and hilly land on the southern bank of the Shannon Estuary. Foynes Island is sizable, measuring ¾ of a mile each way and it rises towards its centre to the height of 54 metres.
The well sheltered and capable harbour hosts a commercial seaport but also offers leisure craft a club pontoon, moorings and a bottom of stiff mud to anchor out of the way of commercial traffic. Foynes Island Oil Terminal is located at the northwest side of Foynes Island. The terminal consists of a jetty extending 200 metres northwest from the island with a berth at the head where leisure craft are not permitted.
Owing to tidal races and the nature of the channel, especially in the upper reaches beyond the River Fergus, the run may not necessarily proceed from buoy to buoy. As such it is highly advised that a stranger should gain an understanding of the rivers’ characteristics by using a good set of charts in conjunction with our coastal description.
Leisure craft are obliged to give way to commercial shipping when operating within the river and estuary. All commercial vessels transiting the Shannon Estuary operate a listening watch on VHF Channel 11 and it is strongly recommended that leisure craft do this. If any uncertainty should arise when encountering commercial traffic, the key to safety is good communications by using Channel 11 to clearly indicate respective intentions.
There are two entrances to Foynes’ inner harbour:
- • A western approach, having the least depth over the bar of 8.1 metres.
- • A eastern approach, having a least depth of 2.1 metres.
The western entrance is the primary commercial channel and is very well marked with buoys, perches and leading lights. Being the preferred channel the Foynes initial fix supports this approach.

Image: Peter McGarry Photography
Foynes Front - leading light Oc 4s 34m 12M position: 52° 36.794’N, 009° 06.130’W
Foynes Rear - leading light Oc 4s 39m 12M position: 52° 36.753’N, 009° 05.910’W
By day follow the markers guiding a passage down the middle of the channel, or by night follow the ‘East Jetty’ leading lights into the harbour.
The key to the western entrance to Foynes is in avoiding the shoal water that extends off both the island and the shore upon approach. From Poultallin Point, off the mainland shoreline to the south of the entrance channel, the outer limit of the shoal extends out almost quarter of a mile. This is marked by the No.1 Poultallin marker on the outside and the inner No.3 Poultallin Point on the edge of the drying area; by night all southern or mainland markers are Q.G.7m2M.
Likewise, from Battery Point, upon the west end of Foynes Island, the shoal has rocks in its southern edge and it runs out 400 metres to the southwest. This is marked by the No.2 Battery Point and the inner No.4 Carrigeen marker; by night all northern or Foynes island markers are Q.R.7m2M.
Between these marks, the channel decreases from 10 to a maintained 7.8 metres of water. Midway along the channel, the shores approach to about 200 metres from each other until, at the southern end of the inner harbour, the channel again widens.
The next markers to be seen on the southern side are the No. 5 and the Colleen Point marker and the channel is clear once past these buoys. Once passed the Colleen Point beacon, the 250-metre long yacht club pontoon will be seen and landing slips to the west of the town on the starboard side.
On first approaches, a conspicuous memorial cross will be seen standing on the high ground to the south side of Foynes Island. Beneath it, Saint Senan's Hospital may be easily identifiable by its flat-roofed building situated to the south of the railway station. The first leg of the northeast approach should be on a line of bearing 215° of Hospital towards the Long Rock marker buoy. During this first approach, 2.4 to 3.4 metres of water will be found mid-channel.
The Long Rock starboard buoy is in about 3.4 metres of water and situated to the west of a patch of rocks that border the channels eastern side of the same name. Leave the Long Rock buoy to port whilst entering.
About 400 metres further on from this is the Elbow Rock port buoy situated in 5 metres of water. This marks an outlying rock at the southern edge of foul ground on the island side called the Elbow Rock. Leave this to starboard.
Continue on 100 metres towards the East Jetty and the channel is clear to make towards the moorings or the pontoon.

Image: Foynes Yacht Club
Alternatively, it is possible to anchor there in stiff mud, as close as possible to the more southerly moorings so as not to obstruct vessels using the east entrance - buoy the anchor. In strong northwest to southwest winds, it is best to anchor east of Foynes Island’s Gammarel Point.
Why visit here?
Foynes, or Faing in Irish, is a small town and very busy commercial port. The harbour’s history dates back to 1837 when it was first surveyed as a potential development location for a seaport. The West Quay wall, that is berth No. 1 today, was the original berth that was constructed nearly a decade after that original survey in 1846. From this beginning, the harbour went on to be continuously developed and thrived as a major deepwater seaport. Today it functions as a base for the servicing of offshore oil exploration as well as a commercial harbour for the import and export of bulk and general cargo. It is operated by the Shannon Foynes Port Company (SFPC) that operates all the Shannon Estuary ports.
Image: Tourism Ireland
Despite this maritime mainstay Foynes briefly achieved its moment of international fame in aviation. For unlikely though it may seem, in the years between 1939 and 1945, this was the key location in the advance of the worldwide capability of aviation. During this period land-based aircraft lacked sufficient range for Atlantic crossings and seaplanes were the first viable craft. As such Foynes was the last safe all-weather location on Europe’s eastern shore for seaplanes.

Image: Tourism Ireland
By then the range of land-based craft had extended and with it came the construction and opening of Shannon Airport in 1942. Traffic to Foynes collapsed and the flying-boat station was closed in 1946. The former terminal was turned into a college for the learning of the Irish language in 1954. However, in 1980 the Port Trustees purchased the building and in 1988 leased a portion to a Flying Boat Museum that exists today. The lasting legacy to the world of Foynes bright moment of global aviation fame is ‘Irish Coffee’. The invention came about here, it is said, in order to alleviate the suffering of cold wet weather passengers had to endure during its aviation days in the 1930s and early 40s.

Image: Tourism Ireland
Those who would like to stride out into some beautiful scenery backstopped by spectacular views should also consider Knockpatrick Gardens whilst passing Foynes. Located 2 km (1 mi) from Foynes towards Limerick it is an award winning 3-acre (12,000 m2) garden that enjoys an ideal location overlooking the estuary. The dwelling house stands over 200 metres above road level, with the surrounding garden descending from this high point. It is divided into levels with pools and water features surrounded by the vibrant colour of a profusion of plants surrounded by many large mature trees.
From a boating perspective, Foynes is the best anchorage in the Shannon Estuary making it an ideal safe haven for yachtsman. Furthermore, as the Shannon Estuary is approximately 50 miles long it is not possible for leisure craft to traverse it on one tide. Hence the broadly midway positioned Foynes is an ideal stop-off point; it is not far off the beaten track, and a good night’s sleep with a very good bite to eat may be totally assured.
What facilities are available?
Water is available on the quay and you will find all the services of a small town, with a population of 600 and a busy commercial port. There are plenty of restaurants, bars, grocers, butchers and so on plus a garage with petrol and diesel, doctor, post office, etc. Foynes town folk have been found to be very accommodating to visiting boats.The yacht club pontoon has the usual facilities during the season including a modern clubhouse with bar, dance floor, toilets and showers. There is a wintering compound for 30 yachts and a launching slip. Foynes is about 25 miles west of Limerick city on the N69 "coast road" and a regular bus is available. This is also the main gateway to Shannon Airport.
Any security concerns?
Never an issue known to have occurred at Foynes.With thanks to:
Burke Corbett, Gusserane, New Ross, Co. Wexford.


Aerial Overview
Shannon Foynes Port company promotional video
Flyingboat Museum overview
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