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Irish rivers are nearly all fed by bogs rising in the mountainous regions. These regions are nearly all around the coast, with the centre being a big, boring, flat, bog-plain. Think of Ireland as a big saucer and you're on the right track. Bogs tend to act like big sponges, soaking up and holding rainfall and then seeping it out into the rivers that drain it. After prolonged dry periods (and yes, Ireland can have dry periods) all the rain can be soaked up and held by the bog so that rivers stay low despite a downpour. On the other-hand, a wet bog will pour huge amounts of water off after even a relatively small rainfall. Water levels can therefore be difficult to predict.
As a rule, Irish whitewater rivers are steep narrow rocky creeky affairs. There are no high volume rivers as you'd see in the Alps, etc. Usually shallow or very shallow, they can be heavy on boats and gear. Big boats though, are major no-no - you'd just get pinned everywhere. For reference: a Corsica S would be considered a large boat.
Given the wintery paddling season(see below), heavy duty wet gear is a must. The water is usually a few degrees above freezing and the atmosphere not much warmer - I've paddled with frozen hair!
The prevailing winds in Ireland are from the Southwest, across the Gulfstream and thus, moist. There seems to be lots of rain, more in the Winter than in the Summer but, alas, with little pattern or consistency. I'm sure that many a meteorologist or the like will disagree but as a simple lad, I have to tell it like I see it. Irelands oceanic climate (at least I think that's what our climate is) protects us from extremes of weather. In Summer the rivers will usually dry up and it will be warm and sunny (ish). The typical paddling season is runs therefore from late Autumn to mid-Spring when it's wet and cold.
Ireland is not as anal about river access as, say the UK is. Rivers are pretty much rights of way rather than boundaries between two properties. That said, anglers are only too happy to argue the toss and they have big sticks with sharp hooky bits on the end. Some of the best paddling rivers are also famous trout and salmon runs and spawning beds, e.g. the Dargle. Common sense prevailed in the case of the Dargle where paddlers agreed not to run the rivers during the summer. When treated with respect, and distance, anglers tend to be alright.
Many of the rivers in Ireland are accesable across public land so there is rarely the need for the running-around-in-a-wood-trying-to-hide-from-a-farmer-with-a-shotgun-while-your-wearing-pink-dayglo-paddling-gear. That said, landowners tend to be more curious than furious about paddlers. So as long as you're respectful and polite, you'll be alllllright.
Irish roads are pretty crappy and to get to many of the rivers you have to go down many a backroad and dirt-track. Seamus's guide book gives accurate directions to the put-in and take-out for the rivers mentioned.
As the tourism cash cow is really starting to reap rewards, hostels, small hotels and B&B's are mushrooming up all over the place. An Oige is the national youth hostelling association. They have hostels in most of the good paddling areas. Trouble is, they tend to be a little on the puritanical side, e.g. curfew by 11:00, no drink, segregated dorms, yadda yadda yadda. Most of the paddlers I know would break every rule in the book inside 10 minutes...
Private hostels often offer superior accomodation and are a little more, shall we say.....flexible in their approach to rules and large groups. Oh, how you can see the Dollar signs light up in their eyes. Most town or tourist area will have at least one hostel. They're often attached to pubs so the drinking knows no end!!!
I've just found this funky link which gives details on tons of hostels throughout the country.
While there are plenty of camping sites, with the river paddling season being essentailly through the winter, it'll be cold and miserable. During the early Summer and Early Autumn, it can be fantastic to camp along the West coast while surfing. Many areas are OK with people camping on the beach as long as you don't thrash the place. Be prepared for highly changable weather though....
Pubs are good in Ireland, you may have heard that already. There's at least one near the end of most rivers so check'em out! The quality of food can be highly variable but the drink is bound to be good. Pubs generally stay open well after official closing time (11:00 in Winter or 11:30 in Summer) with later and later opening being available the more the remote the location. You'll have to keep drinking though to make it worth the landlords while...
A fun game that you can play is called speak to the local: It's simple yet hilarous. Just go up to a local (they're the ones using baling twine to hold up their trousers) and say something like "How're ya gettin on?" then try to keep the conversation going. They'll be speaking English but if you can come out of a ten minute conversation understanding more than 3 words, you've won! This game can also be played in "tag" form. Seriously though, one of the great things about Irish pubs is that you can talk to people, try it!
