Grab your boat-shoes because we’re going on an adventure.

Staying aboard a barge on the calm waters of the historic Grand Canal is a unique experience. The movement is very gentle and you can expect a wonderful night’s sleep. The Roisin Dubh Houseboat was designed for living and is ideal for families, groups of friends and couples looking for a romantic getaway. Its also a great base for exploring Irelands Ancient East or Day tripping to Dublin.

Sallins is where trade on the Grand Canal first began when passenger and cargo barges started hauling their horse drawn loads between the small Kildare village and Dublin in 1780.

Spending a night on a barge isn’t something you do everyday. But whether it’s a family day out, a work-do, a celebration or just because, this is something everyone can enjoy – and there’s a bar on board!

Ger Loughlin from BargeTrip.ie spent 15 years cruising the canals and is the skipper responsible for bringing this unique experience to us.

“Myself and my family lived on a barge for a good few years so we know what an adventure it is. We only moved back to land when the kids started getting older,” Ger said.

“Staying overnight on a barge is just like a night in an apartment and as well as stopping off for a tipple along the way, you’ve your own bar on board. There’s room for up to six people on the overnight barge and as a destination, Sallins has it all.

“There’s good food, people, a micro brewery and you can jump on a train from Dublin and be here in 25 minutes.”

One of the stops along the way is Lough 13, a local pub on the Grand Canal in Sallins which is a firm favourite of Ger’s – not only do they brew their own beer but they have a tasty menu to go with it.

Kildare boasts 120km’s of canals lined with picture postcard scenery. Life slows to a walking pace when cruising the once watery highways of Ireland so get ready for some serious rest&relaxation.

Barge trips down the canal are just as popular with the locals as they are with visitors and tickets are now available in the tourist office in Dublin.

“70% of our passengers would come from Kildare/Meath/Dublin and 30% are international. Everyone is welcome here,” said Ger.

Crawling along at 5km p/h, sipping a glass of locally brewed beer, it’s hard to imagine the thousands of boats and lives that occupied these canals right up until the 1960s.

Tickets and prices are available via BargeTrip.