Kilclare

Kilclare lies on the Shannon-Erne Waterway. If you’re looking for hotels in Kilclare, the waterway, locks and Blueway connection to Leitrim Village help put the destination in context. When planning, it’s worth distinguishing this connection from the longer routes in the wider destination of County Leitrim.

Locks and the Waterway in Kilclare

There are three locks in the village: Lock 14, Lock 15 and Lock 16. There is also a waiting quay and a private mooring on the Shannon-Erne Waterway in Kilclare. The waiting quay and private mooring are separate facilities; note that the mooring is explicitly private. The R209 regional road also runs through Kilclare. This gives you landmarks by both the waterway and the road to help you find your way around the village.

The Blueway Trail between Leitrim Village and Kilclare

A Blueway walking trail leads from Leitrim Village to Kilclare. The Shannon-Erne Blueway between the two places is about 5.2 km each way; measurements may vary slightly depending on the endpoints. The route is traffic-free and can be used on foot or by bicycle. The starting point is at Lock 16 on the edge of Leitrim Village. Electric Bike Trails offers regular bicycles and electric bikes for this route. Rental availability and operating details may change; check these details before planning your trip around them. Follow the current signage and safety guidance along the way.

Historical Connections

At Tawnycurry near Kilclare is a fortification considered to be very old. The history of the Shannon-Erne Waterway also includes its official reopening to traffic on 23 May 1994 after its restoration. The reopening took place at Corraquil Lock near Teemore in County Fermanagh.

More Routes and Places in County Leitrim

The wider destination of County Leitrim has routes of a different scale. The first section of the Shannon Blueway comprises 16.5 km of waterways, as well as circular walking and cycling trails between Drumshanbo and Carrick-on-Shannon. The Leitrim Way runs for 56 km from Manorhamilton to Leitrim Village; it usually takes two to three days. By comparison, the route from Leitrim Village to Kilclare is a shorter connection at about 5.2 km each way. This makes it easy to distinguish the local Blueway route from longer regional trips by distance and time required.

Another route distance in County Leitrim is the Acres Lake Boardwalk: it is 600 m long and forms part of a 6.5 km linear walking and cycling trail from Acres Lake in Drumshanbo to Battlebridge Lock near Leitrim Village. Historic sites offer their own points of interest: Parke’s Castle is a restored early 17th-century castle on the north shore of Lough Gill in County Leitrim. Creevelea Abbey is a Franciscan abbey built in 1508 in County Leitrim and lies on the Sligo Way, an 80 km walking trail with upland routes.

Discover more destinations: Drumgorman, Drumsna, Kinlough, Fenagh, Mohill, Drumod, Kiltyclogher, Dromahair.

View the wider travel guide: County Leitrim.