A Drive through County Offaly
For an enjoyable insight into the County Offaly hinterland of the great River Shannon, this drive is well worth exploring, even if you only pick up on some sections.
While the start and end points of this route are in the beautifully planned town of Birr, in Co. Offaly, you can certainly begin your exploration at any point, including Banagher on the banks of the River Shannon.
Setting out from Birr, the drive takes you just over the Offaly border actually into Roscrea in Co. Tipperary before returning to Offaly. Then it’s on, via the beautiful Slieve Bloom Mountains, to centres such as Cadamstown, Tullamore, Boora (with its parklands) and Kilcormac before you head for famed Clonmacnose with its ancient monastic relics.
After that, you can veer back towards lovely Banagher via Doon and slot in a visit to historic Cloghan Castle before returning to Birr.
Distances: Birr to Roscrea 18km (11ml); Roscrea to Cadamstown 25km (15ml); Cadamstown to Tullamore 19km (12ml); Tullamore via Boora to Kilcormac 18km (11ml); Kilcormac to Clonmacnoise 30km (19ml); Clonmacnoise via Doon to Banagher 33km (20ml); Banagher via Cloghan Castle to Birr 25km (16ml). Total round trip 168km (104ml)
