Kiltyclogher: Heritage and Walking Trails

Kiltyclogher offers clear starting points for planning a stay: the heritage associated with Seán MacDiarmada, as well as the Dean’s Lake Trail and the Fowley’s Falls Cycle Route.

Seán MacDiarmada and the Village Landscape

The Kiltyclogher Heritage Centre is located in the former courthouse in the centre of the village. It opened in November 2014 and houses an exhibition about Seán MacDiarmada, a signatory of the 1916 Proclamation. This brings the subject of the exhibition and the building’s former use together in a central location.

The Heritage Centre offers tours to Seán MacDiarmada’s family home; check the tour arrangements before you arrive. Guided visits to the house pass through the scenic surroundings to the glacial valley of Corranmore. The Seán Mac Diarmada Cottage is also located near Kiltyclogher. It is the only surviving original family home of one of the seven signatories of the Proclamation of the Irish Republic.

The Seán-MacDermott monument stands at the central crossroads. The freestanding statue, made of Irish limestone, was created by Albert Power in 1940 and is listed as a protected structure. The Church of Ireland in Kiltyclogher is also listed as a protected structure. It was built around 1860 and features, among other details, a stone bellcote and a rose window. The statue is notable for its material and sculptor, while the church is notable for its date of construction and architectural details.

Dean’s Lake Trail and the Surrounding Area

The Dean’s Lake Trail leads into a Coillte woodland with deciduous trees and follows a small stream. Local Link 983A is listed as a public transport connection for the trail. Check the timetable before travelling.

Near Kiltyclogher, the Fowley’s Falls Cycle Route at Barr Climb includes a viewpoint overlooking Lough Melvin and, across the lake, County Fermanagh. Several paths lead down from the route to the river, from where the waterfalls can be seen. The viewpoint and the views of the waterfalls offer different points of interest along the route; check the route information before travelling.

More Destinations in County Leitrim

In the wider destination of County Leitrim, the first section of the Shannon Blueway offers 16.5 km of waterways, as well as circular walking and cycling routes between Drumshanbo and Carrick-on-Shannon. The Leitrim Way is a 56 km long-distance walking trail from Manorhamilton to Leitrim Village; it usually takes two to three days to complete. This offers a contrast between waterways and circular routes and a long-distance walk requiring several days.

County Leitrim’s cultural heritage also includes a range of historic buildings: Parke’s Castle is a restored early 17th-century castle on the north shore of Lough Gill. Creevelea Abbey is a Franciscan abbey built in County Leitrim in 1508.

Discover more destinations: Drumshanbo, Drumod, Leitrim, Dromahair, Rossinver, Manorhamilton, Ballinamore, Kilclare

Back to the wider travel overview: County Leitrim.