Cloondara on the Royal Canal

Cloondara brings together canal history and opportunities for walking and cycling. In the village, the Royal Canal meets the River Shannon, Ireland’s longest river. If you’re looking for a hotel in Cloondara, this guide provides an overview of the features that define the village: Richmond Harbour, the historic waterways and the routes in the surrounding area. This can help you decide whether Cloondara is a good fit for your trip.

Richmond Harbour and the history of the canal

Richmond Harbour is at the heart of the village and is a harbour built from dressed stone blocks. The Royal Canal’s final lock is located here. The canal reached Cloondara on 26 May 1817. Richmond Harbour was named after the Duke of Richmond, who was Lord Lieutenant of Ireland when this end of the waterway was completed. This connection between local history and canal construction can also be seen in the buildings around the harbour: many were built for trade on the Royal Canal. Richmond Harbour is also home to numerous barges; their presence may vary.

Richmond Bridge is also part of the village’s character. The Royal Canal Greenway passes beneath its horseshoe-shaped arch. The harbour, lock and bridge offer different insights into the waterways: the harbour speaks to trade, the lock to canal infrastructure, and the bridge to the design of structures along the Greenway. Together, they provide a tangible starting point for discovering Cloondara’s canal history.

Explore on foot or by bike

Cloondara is a possible starting point for a trip along the Royal Canal Greenway. The section to Keenagh is listed as a three-hour walk or a 45-minute cycle. These times are estimates and depend on conditions and your personal pace. Check the current Greenway conditions before setting out. You can use the times as a guide when planning, rather than treating them as fixed durations.

You can also explore the Shannon Blueway from Cloondara. Access and conditions may vary seasonally. The Greenway and Blueway thus offer different points of reference for planning your trip: the Royal Canal Greenway passes through canal history and beneath Richmond Bridge; the Shannon Blueway is another way to explore the area’s waterways. If you enjoy spending your days outdoors, these routes may help you choose your destination.

Historic routes in County Longford

The National Famine Way is also part of the historic route network. It is a 165-kilometre cultural trail, suitable for walkers, cyclists and families. This signposted walking and cycling route follows the last known journey on Irish soil of 1,490 people who were forced to leave Strokestown in County Roscommon in 1847. Around 33.7 kilometres of the route are in County Longford, including Cloondara. In County Longford, the National Famine Way follows the Royal Canal Greenway.

For a broader regional perspective: the Royal Canal Greenway is 130 kilometres long and runs from Maynooth in County Kildare to Clondra in County Longford. Along the Greenway there are 90 bridges, 33 locks, 17 harbours and four aqueducts in total. These figures give an idea of the infrastructure along the entire route. In Cloondara, the canal theme comes together particularly at Richmond Harbour, the final lock and Richmond Bridge. This means you can combine the historic village centre with a longer walking or cycling route, without conflating the local harbour with the wider route.

Discover more destinations: Killashee, Ballymahon, Moyne, Lanesborough, Edgeworthstown, Mosstown, Granard, Longford.

For the main travel overview: County Longford.