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Trailhead, Limerick Tourist Office
Limerick is the Republic of Ireland's third largest city and has a beautiful location on one of Ireland's most picturesque rivers, the River Shannon. With a charter older than that of London, there is plenty of history to absorb in this finer riverside city. Conquered by the Vikings in the ninth century, this bustling modern city has a rich medieval past, which resounds around its ancient streets. As well as the internationally renowned Hunt Museum with its exceptional art collection including works from Picasso, da Vinci and Renoir, Limerick also boasts a wonderful medieval precinct with the famous 800-year-old King John's Castle. Limerick's proud heritage sits comfortably alongside pedestrian plazas lined with colourful boutiques and galleries, upmarket hotels, wonderful old pubs and legendary nightclubs, the newly developed Milk Market and Limerick's many award-winning restaurants and cafes.
The Lough Derg Way Trailhead is located at the Tourist Office.
The Lough Derg Way is marked using the yellow walking man signs.
This canal was constructed in the late 1920s as part of the Shannon Hydroelectric Scheme, one of the largest civil engineering schemes of its kind in the world at that time. The core of the scheme was to construct a hydroelectric powerstation downstream at Ardnacrusha, and then divert the mighty River Shannon via a headrace canal to the new station to drive the turbines. The would provide sufficient power for the newly-independent Irish state to undertake a national electrification program.
The total length of the canal is 13km and it is designed to deliver 500 cubic metres of water per second to the powerstation. It was constructed partly by excavation and partly by embankment, and the embankment reaches a height of 18 metres in places. Three reinforced concrete bridges were constructed over the headrace canal at Clonlara, O'Briensbridge and Blackwater. Further upstream, Parteen Weir Hydro Dam regulates the flow at the junction where the Shannon is diverted.
The pretty village of Clonara is located between the Headrace Canal and the Errina Canal, just 11km from Limerick City.
The Errina Canal is an old unused canal which has taken on a rich habitat of woodland canopy that almost seems like a waterway through a rain forest! This was once part of the Limerick to Killaloe Navigation System along which horses pulled barges laden with cargo.
The picturesque village of O'Briensbridge, Co Clare nestles on the banks of the River Shannon and borders three counties namely Clare, Limerick and Tipperary. The twin village is linked to its sister village, Montpelier in Co. Limerick on the other side of the river Shannon, by a 15th Century stone bridge.
This is the E.S.B. Hydro Dam which was built in the 1920s as part of the Shannon Scheme. The dam holds back the mighty Lough Derg and diverts two thirds of the River Shannon down the Headrace Canal to feed Ardnacrusha Power Station. The Shannon Scheme was such a major undertaking of international status, that the construction itself became a tourist attraction and it is estimated that from 1927-1929 over 250,000 people took part in specially organised guided tours!
The artificial lake was created as a result of the dam. When conditions are right, it is still possible to see the rooftops of houses that were submerged.
The picturesque twin towns of Ballina/Killaloe are hugely popular with visitors who come to enjoy its watersports and bustling pubs and restaurants. In Killaloe you have a network of charming narrow streets, flanked by old shops and houses that climb up the steep hillside and down over the 13th century cathedral. Killaloe is closely associated with Brian Boru (c.941-1014), a fierce warrior who became High King of Ireland in around 1002. A fascinating Historical Town Trail explores the rich heritage of the area, featuring many sites associated with Brian Boru as well as important ecclesiastical monuments dating back to medieval times.
After crossing the bridge into Ballina, Co. Tipperary, turn left on Main Street and after approximately 200 metres turn right onto Grange Road. The Lough Derg Way follows this local road for about 3km until the route goes off-road into the Sliabh Arra mountains.
The route now leaves the road and gently ascends into the Arra Mountains. The name comes from the Irish word Aradh meaning "ridged". The highest point is Tountinna (459m). These mountains were formerly an important slate producing area and at one point some 15,000 tons of slate product was exported through Killaloe.
You have now reached the summit of Tountinna (459m), meaning the "Hill of the Wave" which refers to a tremendous flood that, according to the mythology in the ancient Book of Invasions, drowned all the first Irish inhabitants except those survivors who took refuge on Tountinna.
From here you can drink in some truly spectacular views of Lough Derg and its islands. Across the lake you can see the Slieve Bearnagh mountains of County Clare. Behind you to the north east are the Slieve Bloom Mountains in County Offaly. To the south is Keeper Hill (695m), the highest mountain in the Shannon Region.
The trail now leaves the tarred road and caution is advised along the steep and winding descent back to the trailhead.
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Graves of the Leinstermen
On the north western side of Tountinna mountain are the Bronze Age (1,500 BC) stones commonly called "the Graves of the Leinstermen". One stone is standing, the rest are covered in undergrowth. The site could have originally been a stone circle or a Neolithic Tomb.
According to tradition, it is here that the men of Leinster and their King met their deaths at the hands of High King Brian Boru's soldiers, around 1000AD. It appears that while High King Brian Boru was away at war, his wife Gormlaith was left in control of his affairs. A beautiful and cunning queen of Viking heritage, she discovered that the Leinster King was on his way to Kincora (near Killaloe - the residence of Brian Boru) to claim the hand of Brian's daughter in marriage. She was not in favour of the alliance and decided to ambush the party they passed over Tountinna. The battle resulted in the death of the Leinster King, who requested that he be buried within sight of his Leinster Kingdom. According to the legend, his followers then buried him under the ancient standing stones at this spot.
The Lough Derg Way now turns right and follows the road for approximately 800m, at which point the route goes off-road once more towards the Millennium Cross.
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Path to Millennium Cross
Follow the signs, turning left at this junction towards the Millennium Cross
A sixty-foot stainless steel cross weighing more than four tonnes was erected (2002) on Cloneybrien Hill near Portroe, to commemorate the millennium and to replace a cross that was placed on the spot to mark the Eucharistic Congress in 1932. The original cross was destroyed by lightning in 1945.
There are splendid views from here of Lough Derg, a place known as the "Lookout", possibly the most spectacular throughout Lough Derg.
This amenity area is a great stopping point. There are public toilets, picnic tables and great lakeshore views. This is also a safe bathing area.
Approximately 1km from the Amenity Area is the entrance to Castlelough Woods, a Coillte-owned recreation site. The woods comprise over 50 hectares of mixed woodland that include a network of forest roads and trails which the walker is welcome to investigate. Beech, ash, oak, alder, birch, cherry, Norway spruce, Scots pine and Douglas fir all form part of the canopy cover. This is also a popular area for birdwatchers. Lough Derg is a designated Special Protection Area (SPA) for breeding and wintering birds such as Common Tern, Black Headed Gull, Great Crested Grebe, Tufted Duck and Whooper Swan.
A short distance after the entrance to Castlelough, the route turns left. Take a left at the next junction and turn right after that. You are now traveling parallel to the lakeshore. After another 1km turn left for Garrykennedy.
One of the best ways to experience the magic of Lough Derg is to visit the beautiful hamlet of Garrykennedy on the lake's North Tipperary shoreline. Situated less than 3.2km (2ml) off the Nenagh - Portroe lake drive road, the village is a true gem. It's a small unspoiled fishing and boating village with a great reputation for traditional Irish music.
Up to the 1950s, it was a busy port with regular visits by the Guinness barges delivering barrels of stout. In recent years it has been developed to cater for increased cruiser traffic and the needs of other visitors.
Additional visitor facilities were recently provided, including new toilet facilities with showers and changing rooms, an expanded slipway for boats, seating, picnic and BBQ facilities.
Garrykennedy is Trailhead 4 of the Lough Derg Way. The route now leaves the village in a southerly direction towards Portroe. About 1.5km from Garrykennedy watch out for the stile on the left where the Lough Derg Way leaves the roadway.
Turn left here to leave the road as the route goes cross country for the next 7km.
This part of the Lough Derg Way contains many streams close to the Lakeshore and is known as the Callows. Cross a footbridge at this point and about 1km later the route joins the road for about 1.5km.
Turn left here and the route travels through open fields for about 2km. Turn left again when you reach the road.
After 2km the road ceases to be a public roadway, although walkers on the Lough Derg Way are welcome to continue their journey of course! You are now on the northern shores of Youghal Bay, a renowned angling location within Lough Derg.
The route rejoins the road once more for the final 2.5km to Dromineer. Continue along the road and follow the signs to turn left at the water pump for Dromineer. Caution is advised on this final stretch of roadway which can be quite busy in the summer months.
Dromineer is one of the oldest villages located on the Lough. Once known as the 'Port of Ormond', Dromineer offers a range of visitor facilities and services including accommodation, a pub and places to eat.
