Carrick-on-Shannon Hen Party Guide

Why Carrick is Hen Party Heaven

If Ireland had an official capital for hen parties, Carrick-on-Shannon would be wearing the crown and a veil.

You’ve got the river Shannon running right through the town, booze cruises with DJs and dancefloors, bars and late bars all within a few minutes’ walk, self-catering apartments and guesthouses designed for groups

Basically, it’s as if someone said: “Let’s build a town specifically for hens and stags” – and Carrick just quietly volunteered as tribute

Three main reasons:

1. It’s ridiculously handy

Carrick-on-Shannon is pretty much in the middle of the country, so you’ve got people coming from Dublin, Galway, the Midlands and the North all meeting in one place without anyone feeling hard done by on travel. 

2. The town is compact 

Most of the good stuff, apartments, bars, restaurants, and the party boats are within a few minutes’ walk of each other. So once you park the car or hop off the bus, you’re sorted.

3. The river + nightlife combo is unbeatable

Between the booze cruises on the Shannon, lively pubs and the late bars/nightclubs, you’re spoiled for choice. 

You can literally:

• Cruise the river with other hens and stags, DJ pumping

• Step off the boat

• Walk straight into town for more chaos

That’s why so many hen companies keep sending groups back here again and again.

Must-Do Carrick Hen Activities

You could fill a whole weekend with activities in Carrick, but these are the core favourites our hens keep booking.

1. Booze Cruise 

An absolute non-negotiable for many groups.

• 60 minutes on the river

• DJ, bar, dancefloor, other hen & stag groups

• Up to 100 people on board, so the atmosphere is electric 

It’s the perfect way to kick off the night: just enough madness to set the tone, but you’re back on land in time for dinner or late bar.

2. Drag Show

If your bride loves sass, sequins and savage one-liners, Carrick’s drag shows and drag bingo are top tier.

You can build a day or night around:

• Drag bingo as a warm-up

• Followed by cocktails, dinner and a late bar

Great for groups who want comedy and performance, not just “sit and drink”.

3. Old School Sports Day

For hens who like a bit of friendly competition (and don’t take themselves too seriously):

• Think egg-and-spoon, sack races, three-legged chaos

• Ideal daytime activity when you want everyone laughing and mixing

• Great ice-breaker for groups where not everyone knows each other yet 

You can pair this with a more glam evening – sports day by day, cocktails by night.

4. Cocktail Classes

Carrick does cocktail classes really well – usually around 90 minutes of:

• Learning to shake and mix a few classics

• Drinking your creations

• Plenty of time for photos and messing

It doubles as both an activity and pre-drinks, so it’s budget-friendly too.

5. Draw A Nude 

If your bride loves chaos and craic:

• Draw A Nude is always a hit (it’s more hilarious than filthy).

At The Happy Hen, we can build packages that mix the big hitters or keep it simple with one hero activity and lots of chill time.

Where to Stay: Apartments vs Houses vs Hotels

One of the biggest decisions in Carrick is what kind of accommodation you want. The good news? There’s loads of choice. 

Self-Catering Apartments

Perfect if you want everyone under one roof. It offers space for getting ready together, games and prosecco and has a more relaxed, “home base” vibe.

Central apartments mean you can walk everywhere, cruise, bars, restaurants etc, without spending half the budget on taxis.

Townhouses & Hen Houses

Great for slightly bigger groups who want more privacy. These might be 5–10 minutes’ walk or a short taxi from town, but you usually get more space and better value per person.

Hotels

Ideal for mixed-age groups (mams, aunties, grannies) and for brides who prefer a more polished base with breakfast and onsite bar. Several hotels in Carrick offer dedicated hen and stag packages with dinner, drinks and activities included.

When we’re building your package at The Happy Hen, we’ll ask what kind of group you have and match you with the best option: central & lively, relaxed & roomy, or hotel comfort.

Day Trip vs Full Weekend in Carrick

You don’t have to stay two nights to make Carrick worth it, although most groups do. Here’s what each option typically looks like.

Option A: Carrick Day Trip Hen

Perfect if the bride doesn’t want a big fuss or if the budget is tight.

What a Carrick day hen might look like:

• Arrive late morning / lunchtime

• Afternoon activity such as cune games, cocktail class or drag show

• Early evening booze cruise on the Shannon

• Group dinner and a few drinks in town

• Train / bus / lift home or overnight nearby for those who want to

You still get the key Carrick moment – the booze cruise – without the cost of a full weekend.

Option B: 1-Night Carrick Hen

A very popular “happy medium”.

Sample 1-night plan:

Day 1

• Check into central apartments or hotel

• Afternoon activity (cocktail class / gameshow / Old School Sports Day)

• Time to get glammed up

• Evening booze cruise

• Dinner and late bar / club

Day 2

• Breakfast 

• Slow pack, last stroll, group photos

• Head home at a reasonable hour

Option C: 2-Night Carrick Hen

This is your “full weekend away” version.

• Friday night – arrivals, drinks, grub in a casual bar and a few games

• Saturday – big daytime activity + booze cruise + main night out

• Sunday – breakfast, goodbyes, go home slightly fragile but happy

If your bride wants the full experience the 2-night option gives you all the space you need without cramming everything into 24 hours. Self-catering accommodations means you can do te most without breaking the bank.

What Does a Carrick Hen Actually Cost?

Exact prices will always depend on dates, numbers and what you include, but we can absolutely talk ballpark figures using real activity and package pricing from Carrick suppliers and our own package builder.

Think of it in three tiers (per person):

Budget-Friendly Carrick Hen

(Day trip, simple but fun)

Roughly from €75–€150pp, including things like:

• Booze cruise or other fun activities

• Simple food option – finger food / pizza / casual main

• Drag caberet or late bar drinks

Ideal for groups who want “Carrick experience” on a normal budget and don’t need spa days or multiple activities.

Classic Carrick Weekend (Most Popular)

Usually around €195–€250pp for a 1–2 night stay, including:

• 1–2 nights in central apartments or a hotel

• One hero activity – cocktail class, Draw A Nude, Old School Sports Day etc. (often €25–€35pp)

• Booze cruise on the Shannon

• 2-course meal in a hen-friendly restaurant

• Reserved late bar / nightclub and possibly shots or prosecco on arrival

This is where most Happy Hen groups land: solid accommodation, key activities + food all sorted, and no one feels short-changed.

Premium Carrick Hen (All the Bells & Whistles)

For brides who want the full “main character” treatment, expect from €250–€320pp+ for 2 nights with:

• Hotel accommodation or luxury self-catering accommodation

• Two or more activities (e.g. old school sports day + cocktail class + hosted games)

• Booze cruise

• 2-course or 3-course meal

• Extra touches like prosecco on arrival, goodie bags, added nightlife perks

Great for groups who are like, “Look, we’re going all out for her'. This is the hen.