Phoenix

I have always loved to see historic boats in use on the waterways. This is the Phoenix which was built in 1872 to the design of Andrew Horn at the Neptune Iron Works, Waterford (Malcolmson Bros.) The boat was built for Francis Spaight of Derry Castle on Lough Derg, possibly as a wedding present for his son, William.

For most of its life the boat has been based on the Shannon and around Killaloe in particular. The steam engine was replaced by a two-cylinder, two-stroke diesel engine, made by Ellwe of Sweden. It had a compressed-air start mechanism and developed 36ihp at 475rpm. In 1966 the Ellwe engine was replaced with a Perkins S6.

Still based at Killaloe the Phoenix is seen here leaving Dromineer on Lough Derg after a regatta. More history of this vessel can be found at iwn.iwai.ie/v26i2/phoenix.html.