The Lough Derg Way
Walking Trail stretches from Limerick City to Killaloe. This walk covers a
distance of approximately 16 miles, which has been fully marked and sign
posted.
Walking from the Limerick City direction, the route commences at
the Limerick City Tourist Information Office and leaves the main Limerick/Dublin
Road at Lock Quay, before continuing along the Limerick city canal which was the
first of the old of the Shannon navigation canals. Plassey is now the site for
one of Ireland's most modern universities. Over the past decade it has developed
into a major Technological Park of international standing, and it is here at
Plassey Bridge that the route crosses the river Shannon and continues for a
stretch along the old disused Errina Canal as far as Gilloge
Bridge.
After a short distance along a country road the route again joins
the Shannon navigation system at the canal and continues for approximately 4.5
miles along the canal bank to O'Briens Bridge. Before coming to O'Briens Bridge
you meet a small village called Clonlara with charming shops and pubs. The
village boasts one of the finest stone churches in the Diocese of Killaloe.
Although not on the official way, about 2 miles to the east of the village are
the falls of Doonass, a district with beauty that is unsurpassed along the River
Shannon.
At O'Briens Bridge, you are at a point once considered to be one
of the three most important points in the country, the others being Dublin and
Athlone. The bridge derives its name from a large wooden bridge built in 1506 by
Torlough O'Brien, King of Thomond. To-day it is a lovely tourist town with a
wide selection of accommodation, catering and activities services available to
tourists.
From here, the route turns left onto the main Limerick/Killaloe
road and then to the right for approximately half a mile before turning left
again onto a narrow country road which overlooks the Shannon System and
continues down into Killaloe.
Killaloe is the centre of a beautiful and
historic district. It is perhaps best known as the home of Brian Boru, High King
of Ireland 1002-1014.
"Sorry this is so late but I just wanted to say Thank you so much for planning such a wonderful trip! We enjoyed every aspect of it. I just wanted to let you know that the tax on the Bed & Breakfast's was a Dublin tax." -- Audrey
At O'Briens Bridge, you are at a point once considered to be one
of the three most important points in the country, the others being Dublin and
Athlone. The bridge derives its name from a large wooden bridge built in 1506 by
Torlough O'Brien, King of Thomond. To-day it is a lovely tourist town with a
wide selection of 
