Drumod: Railways, Lakes and Railway Heritage

Drumod combines rail and bus connections with railway history, a distinctive lakeside setting and a local art landmark. These themes offer different ways to plan your stay: you can focus on getting there, the railway heritage or the waterside landscape.

Getting there and finding your way

Dromod station is served by the Dublin Connolly–Sligo railway line. Bus route 564 between Ballinamore and Carrick on Shannon also stops at the station. Routes and operating details may change, so check the latest rail and bus information before travelling.

There is also a specific time reference for travelling by water: continuing through a manned lock takes you to Drumod Harbour after a further hour.

Railway heritage and local art

The Cavan and Leitrim Railway Museum in Dromod displays a section of the original Cavan and Leitrim Railway. The railway opened in 1887 and closed in 1959. The collection includes the steam locomotive Nancy, built in 1908. This offers a way to explore the railway’s history through both a section of the line and a named vehicle.

The Weeping Tree, a sculpture in Drumod, offers a different focus. A local craftsperson made it from a single piece of bog oak. Its material and craftsmanship give the artwork a connection to traditional crafts, distinct from the technical heritage of the railway.

Lakes and waterways

Drumod is situated on the shore where Lough Boderg (Lake of the Red Cow) and Lough Bofin (Lake of the White Cow) meet. The two lakes shape the area’s geographical identity and give the landscape a distinctive theme alongside railways and history.

Those interested in coarse fishing will find several waters in the surrounding area that are described as popular: the River Shannon, the Rivers Rinn and Eslin, as well as Pigeon Island Bay, Bog, Gortinty and Cloonboniagh. This selection shows that the area’s waterways extend beyond the two lakes; the fishing waters mentioned are in the vicinity of Drumod.

More things to explore in County Leitrim

County Leitrim offers further themes to explore when planning a trip beyond Drumod. The first section of the Shannon Blueway comprises 16.5 km of waterways and circular walking and cycling routes between Drumshanbo and Carrick-on-Shannon. The Leitrim Way, by contrast, is a 56 km long-distance walking trail from Manorhamilton to Leitrim Village, for which two to three days are usually set aside. The routes therefore differ both in their described layout and in the time typically needed to complete them.

The Sliabh an Iarainn Visitor Centre in Drumshanbo is also in County Leitrim. Its audiovisual exhibitions cover the Arigna and Sliabh an Iarainn mountain region. Topics include railways, canals, lakes, iron and coal mining, and musical heritage. Parke’s Castle is another historic attraction in County Leitrim: the restored castle dates from the early 17th century and lies on the northern shore of Lough Gill.

Find a hotel to suit your interests

If you’re looking for a hotel in Drumod, you can use the themes mentioned above to guide your trip planning: the rail connection for getting there, the railway museum and sculpture for cultural interests, or the lakes and waterways for a stay focused on the water. For broader planning in County Leitrim, the different types of routes also offer a practical way to distinguish day trips from longer walks.

Discover more destinations: Ballinamore, Drumsna, Carrick On Shannon, Cloone, Keshcarrigan, Drumnafinnila, Fenagh, Manorhamilton.

For the broader travel overview: County Leitrim.