Little Island is located on the southeast coast of Ireland, 13 miles within Waterford Harbour. Encircled by the Suir, the small island offers an excellent anchorage in an idyllic rural setting, but still close to the city of Waterford.

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.

Tidal streams are a prime consideration within Waterford Harbour: a strong adverse current will make for slow progress; conversely, a favourable passage current will make the estuary quickly traversable.

Keyfacts for Little Island

Position and approaches

Haven position

52° 14.912' N, 007° 3.939' W

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?

This is a fairway turn point to avoid the Dirty Tail off the western shore and the foul ground extending off Little Island.

What are the key points of the approach?

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What's the story here?

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.



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?

Use the Port of Waterford for details of seaward approaches, entry to Waterford Harbour and the run up the estuary. The Suir divides at the east end of Little Island, with the Queen’s Channel leading northward of the island, and King's Channel southward. The Queen’s Channel is the best route to continue as it is well marked, has 4.8 metres in the fairway and is the preferred passage to Waterford, as well as the west end of the island. The King’s Channel is subject to silting on its eastern end, is unmarked and seldom used.

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.




From the initial fix turn abruptly to steer 166° T to pass close to and on the correct side of the port buoy moored mid-channel, 200 metres southward. Then take a central course, steering for the western tip of the island and maintaining a keen eye on the sounder until the ‘Dirty Tail’ is passed.

There are several places to anchor off the western side of the island, all of which are very good. Many vessels find the most convenient anchorage is on the 3-metre plateau 300 metres south of the Dirty Tail marker buoy.




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.




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.




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.





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.



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.

It was the seclusion that attracted the island’s first known settlers, who were monks. A monastic settlement existed on the island sometime between the 6th and 8th centuries; the discovery of two island artefacts bears witness to the monks’ presence. The earliest of these was a crude 6th-century carving of a monk’s head, which is now prominently displayed over the main entrance to the island’s 15th-century castle. The latter was a winged angel that dates back to the 8th century. By then, due to the strategic importance of the island, the monastic settlement was increasingly being attacked, which forced the monks to abandon the site.

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.

Maurice FitzGerald (circa 1105 to September 1177), Strongbow’s cousin and uncle of Le Gros, was the leader of the first Bannow Bay landings a year earlier in 1169. He was a major figure in the Norman invasion of Ireland and Strongbow rewarded his efforts by making him potentate over large tracts of Munster and Leinster. He also had a specific interest in the diminutive Little Island; it is believed that during a pitched battle that took place in the early stages of the invasion, the Danish Osserman of Waterford took FitzGerald prisoner and held him on Little Island. It was only for a short time and FitzGerald was quickly rescued by his son-in-law, enabling him to rejoin the victorious Norman army. So, Little Island was included in his award and, after the country was secured, Maurice FitzGerald decided to make it his home. Thus began one of the longest unbroken stewardships in Irish records, with the FitzGerald descendants remaining on the island, generation after generation, for eight centuries.

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.




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.




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.




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.




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.




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.