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What to see around the Northern Part of Lough Derg

Timeless great castles, impressive monasteries, vast forest parks, spectacular lake and riverside scenery, wonderful towns and villages… it’s all here waiting to be discovered!

There’s much to see and marvel at, in what is one of the most unspoilt areas of Ireland. Great scenery and views over the dramatic waterways combine with a rich history and friendly people to create a memorable visitor experience.

History and heritage are all around. The fine Georgian towns of Portumna in Galway on the northern shores of Lough Derg and Birr in Offaly reflect the great architecture and planning of the period. On the other hand, pretty small villages like Terryglass show off all that is best and distinctive about Irish rural life. This North Tipperary town has twice won the National Tidy Towns Competition.

Monastic jewel

There’s no better way to delve into Ireland’s rich heritage than to explore the spectacular monastic settlement at Clonmacnoise in Co. Offaly. Travel back in time almost 1,500 years and get a special sense of the wonderful traditions cultivated by this remarkable community founded by St. Ciaran in the 6th century.

Tour through East Galway, with its green fields and walls of stone made famous in the popular song, ‘The Fields of Athenry’ but also noted for its many heritage relics.

Explore the beautiful riverside towns of Banagher and Shannonbridge, combining delightful settings on the waterway with great history and charm.

Travel a little further inland to discover the many attractions of Birr, with its preserved architecture, tree-lined malls and magnificent Castle and Demesne. Or you might like to hop on board the Clonmacnoise & West Offaly Railway tour, which takes you through the rare bogland where the old narrow-gauge line used to transport the peat.

Visitor attractions

Interesting visitor attractions in this part of Lough Derg that you might like to explore include:

Birr Castle Demesne

This is a highly impressive attraction which incorporates Ireland’s largest gardens and the country’s Historic Science Centre. The ornamental gardens are splendid, depicting various features from formal to river themes. Spectacular box hedges at Birr are regarded as the tallest in the world. The beautiful parkland features thousands of rare trees and plants collected from all over the world. The rivers, lakes and waterfalls are all memorable. The Great Telescope, constructed at Birr Castle in the 1840s, is one of the central attractions in the Historic Science Centre. This was the largest telescope in the world for 70 years and is now fully restored. Portumna Castle

This castle represents an important example of 17th century fortified house architecture in Ireland. Built before 1618 by Richard Burke (or de Burgo), 4th Earl of Clanrickarde, it was the main seat of the de Burgo family for over 200 years, until it was gutted by fire in 1826.

 Portumna Forest Park

The impressive 607 hectare (1,500 acre) Forest Park has been developed as a public amenity, with first-class wheelchair and buggy-friendly walkway. There are forest and lakeside walks, car park, toilet facilities and observation points. Visitors can get a bird's eye view of the forest, lake and lakeshore from a viewing tower along the nature trail.

Clonmacnoise and West Offaly Railway

Not far from Shannonbridge, this unique narrow gauge rail tour takes you through the amazing peatlands of Blackwater Bog.  As the train winds its way through the bog on one or two hour tours, the story of the bog is told and a stop is made for a hands-on demonstration of cutting turf in the traditional way.

The Slieve Blooms

Forming a dramatic backdrop to the east of this part of the Lough Derg region, the Slieve Bloom Mountains are a special place. The scene of many great historical legends and tales, they are also a delightful touring destination.

The blanket bog, dark green forests with trails, picnic sites and amenity areas, crystal-clear mountain streams stepped with waterfalls, and long deep valleys edged with peaceful villages will fascinate you.

 For More information

For more information on various aspects of sightseeing and exploring in this part of Lough Derg, check out the following links:
• Sightseeing and Touring
• Leisurely Drives
• Cycling
• Walking
• History and Heritage
• Visitor Attractions
• Heritage Centres
• Info Downloads