1. Walks |
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The Leitrim WayLeitrim County Council, Courthouse, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Leitrim
A walk through a variety of landscape forms common to this beautiful but little known part of Ireland. Starting by following the east shore of Lough Allen, the walker travels through increasingly beautiful scenery until reaching the upland wilderness of Barlear. The route is made up of tracks old and new in its entirety, resulting in a fast pace. It is generally more attractive to walk from Drumshambo to Manorhamilton.
The Leitrim Way |
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2. Gardens |
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Lough Rynn House & GardensCo. Leitrim
There is a point on the lawn at the rear of Lough Rynn House, overlooking the lake, where the visitor may witness 4,000 years of history by simply turning through 180 degrees. The neolithic burial tomb a top "Druids Hill" was constructed some two thousand years B.C. Reynolds Castle, stands now as a lonely sentinal by the lake shore, dates from the 16th century. Lough Rynn House itself was constructed in 1832 and serves as a "full stop" to the historical tour which spans 4,000 years.
William Sydney Clements, the third Earl of Leitrim resided at Lough Rynn House for over 40 years and from there he administered 90,000 acres in the four counties of Donegal, Galway, Leitrim and Kildare. His impact on history may be measured not only by the legacy of the buildings and the landscape but also by the personal witness of hundreds of people who have transmitted their personalised stories through succeeding generations.
The remains of Lord Leitrim's estate comprise ornamental gardens and nature trails, lakeside walks and many buildings of historical interest.
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3. Tourist Attractions |
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Jamestown Town GateCo. Leitrim
Jamestown was founded by Sir Charles Coote in 1625 and was occupied by O'Rourke in 1642. Little remains of the town wall except the old town gate through which the modern Dublin-Sligo road passes, and which had its arch removed in the 1970s.
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4. Open Farms |
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Swan Island Open FarmCorrawallen, Co. Leitrim
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5. Parks |
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Garadice Park Amenity AreaC/O Leitrim County Council, Co. Leitrim
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6. Canals |
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Ballinamore/Ballyconnell CanalCo. Leitrim
Built between 1845 and 1856 as a joint navigation/drainage project and also as a famine relief scheme during the Great famine of 1845-49. It joins the Shannon at Leitrim village to the Erne at Aghalane. The locks were built between 1850-52. At Ballinamore there was a quay popularly known as the 'basin' which was attached to the nearby markethouse which took the business of the canal. It took fourteen years to build the original canal at a cost of IR274,272.
Restoration of this waterway started in 1991 and was completed and opened for navigation in 1994. It is now one of the most modern waterways in Europe (push button automatic locks) and weaves through an area rich in unspoilt natural beauty.
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7. Lakes |
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Garadice LakeCo. Leitrim
One of the largest lakes in Leitrim. It's islands contain the ruins of an O'Rourke castle, Myles 'the slasher' Castle and a 17th Century Church. Nearby in a ring fort in Darraugh townland, sun god called Crom Cruaich, who was eventually destroyed by St. Patrick.
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8. Mountains |
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Sliabh An Iarainn Visitor CentreCo. Leitrim
A number of particularly important features of the area are given special treatment.
Mining of Coal and Iron
Sweathouses
The Cavan and Leitrim Railway
Coal & Mining Heritage:
The Arigna area of Roscommon and the adjacent mountains of Co Leitrim were famous for coal and iron mining. From as early as the 15th century iron was mined in the area. Coal mining became more prominent in the 19th century.
Sweathouse:
The Lough Allen area is the home of the sweat house.
Sweathouses were used as a cure for aches and pains, somewhat similar to the modern sauna.
Built of stone with a small opening or doorway, a big turf fire would be lit for hours inside. When it was sufficiently hot, the fire was removed quickly and the patient crawled into the sweathouse and sat on a bundle of rushes or straw. When he or she had sweated sufficiently they emerged and took a dip in a running stream.
The centre has a reconstruction of a sweathouse with realistic background and setting. While in the area you can also visit a real sweathouse.
In July 1990, centuries of a mining tradition ended with the closure of the last of the coal mines.
The centre has a display depicting miners at work and tells the story of the one and only great industry of the area.
The Cavan & Leitrim Railway:
The Cavan and Leitrim railway was one of the most memorable systems in Ireland. It ran on a narrow gauge line and linked the Leitrim towns of Drumshanbo, Mohill and Ballinamore.
For most of the journey between Drumshanbo and Ballinamore it ran alongside the public road and crossed at a number of bends.
Despite many protests the railway closed in 1959. The centre has a re-creation of a ticket and waiting room as well as many fine pictures of the railway.
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9. Water Falls |
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Glencar Waterfall Amenity AreaC/O Leitrim County Council, Co. Leitrim
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10. Woods and Forests |
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Derrycarne Wood (Doire Carna)Co. Leitrim
Derry is the old Irish name for oak wood and it is thought that the area north of Lough Bofin was covered in oak at one time.Today beech and oak are the main species while there are also pine, birch, willow, hornbeam, old Douglas fir and Sitka spruce.
Facilities: Car park, picnic site, walks, access to the Shannon.
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11. Scenic Drives |
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Where the river Shannon FlowsCo. Leitrim
CARRICK-ON-SHANNON World famed now as headquarters of cruising on the longest river in these islands (256 km). Leitrim's picturesque county town also has a fine marina, good angling and has won an award as one of Ireland's most attractive riverside towns.
BOYLE Bestrides the Boyle River which links Lough Gara and Lough Key. The very scenic district contains the well-conserved remains of the 12th century boyle Cistercian Abbey and many archaeological sites. Also golf and fishing.
LOUGH KEY Has a multiplicity of attractions, the forest Park a caravan and camping park, restaurant, bog gardens and magnificent scenery, best seen from Doon shore. Cruising, fishing etc.
BALLINAFAD Nestling at the foot of the Curlew Mountains at the south end of Lough Arrow , noted for mayfly fishing. The Curlews, by their position across main routes, were the scene of may Gaelic tribal fights.
CASTLEBALDWIN Nearby Hollybrook was the scene of the romantic adventures of the "Colleen Bawn" Detour for the prehistoric cemetery in the Bricklieve mountains and the caves of Kesh to Ballymote, another angling centre.
LOUGH ARROW Scenic drive along the east shore, where boats can be hired for the excellent game fishing.
KEADUE Carolan, the famous bard , spend his final years here and was buried at Killronan cemetery on the shore of Lough Meelagh. This lovely area also contains St Laisar's well , Cross Alts cascade and the ruins of Kilronan castle.
ARIGNA There are working coal mines in this district. The road over the mountains to Ballintogher traverses wild and beautiful scenery.
BALLINTOGHER. Quiet village near Slish Wood which overlooks Lough Gill and the Lake Isle of Innisfree.
DROMOHAIR Charming village with pretty brightly painted houses and interesting architecture.
DRUMKEERAN Near Lough Allen, first of the Shanon's great lakes, which divides county leitrim in half. Seven miles long and three wide, the lake is noted for big pike. Coal from Arigna powers the electricity station on the west shore.
DRUMSHANBO Annual venue of the an Tostal Festival Acres lake has a fine marina with outdoor heated swimming pool. A busy market town and angling centre.
BALLINAMORE Dominated by Slieve An Iarainn and Bencroy, Leitrims, highest peaks, this friendly town is (like Ballyconnell ) on the ancient canal that developers dream of joining the Shannon to the Erne. Short detour to historic Fenagh Abbey.
NEWTOWNGORE Near Garadice Lake, venue of national angling championships.
CARRIGALLEN Pleasant town in the heart of the Leitrim lakeland with its unlimited fishing.
MOHILL Busy market town and angling centre close to pretty Lough Rinn
DROMOD Twice voted Leitirm's tidiest town.
ROOSKY A popular stopping place for Shannon cruisers.
DRUMSNA Once an important trading centre on the Shannon but now noted for its wood-carving industry. Anthony Trolope was briefly a postal official in the village.
JAMESTOWN An historic village with an impressive gateway and remnants of defensive walls It was incorporated as a borough by James I in 1612. Two miles from Carrick-on-Shannon.
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12. Visitors Centre |
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Sorry we have no Visitor Centres in Leitrim
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