Killashee: Churches and Royal Canal Greenway

Killashee has two churches with distinct architectural styles and a section of the Royal Canal Greenway that passes through the village. Templeton Glebe is another notable landmark in the centre. Together, these features give a concrete impression of the area’s architecture and canal history; other destinations in County Longford add to the regional picture.

Churches and landmarks in the village centre

Saint Patrick’s Catholic Church is a cruciform Roman Catholic church dating from 1829. It was built on land donated by the Royal Canal Company. Inside, the church retains a cast-iron gallery railing with quatrefoil motifs and a cast-iron spiral staircase. The cruciform design and two distinct cast-iron details come together in one building.

Saint Paul’s Church is a Gothic Revival Church of Ireland church. It was built or rebuilt around 1837 to 1840; its squat, two-stage tower has corner pinnacles. Together with its associated rectory, the church is an integral part of Killashee’s built heritage. Unlike the cruciform Saint Patrick’s Catholic Church, its Gothic Revival style and tower shape define its architectural character.

Templeton Glebe also helps orient visitors in the village: the building stands prominently at the southern end of the crossroads in the centre of Killashee. This makes it possible to understand the two churches and this central landmark as distinct aspects of the area’s built heritage.

The Royal Canal Greenway and the history of the locks

The section of the Royal Canal Greenway in County Longford runs for 16.5 kilometres from Longford Town, through Killashee, to Richmond Harbour in Clondra. The Greenway’s full route is a 130-kilometre walking and cycling trail from Maynooth in County Kildare to Clondra in County Longford. The two figures refer to different sections: 16.5 kilometres for the section in County Longford and 130 kilometres for the entire route.

Nearby, east of Killashee, the Royal Canal’s 43rd lock was built around 1815. Along with Aghnaskea Bridge and its associated lock keeper’s house, it forms part of a group of connected canal structures and the built heritage of the Killashee area. The lock and this group of structures add another chapter in the history of the area’s canal infrastructure.

County Longford as a regional setting

The rail connection is also relevant when planning a trip in County Longford: the Dublin–Sligo railway line serves the county, with Longford Town and Edgeworthstown among the stations. If you are travelling by train, check the timetables with Irish Rail in advance, as schedules and services may change.

Newcastle Woodland, near Ballymahon in County Longford, offers a different landscape. Managed by Coillte, this mixed woodland covers 325 hectares on both sides of the River Inny, an important tributary of the River Shannon. The woodland has 14 kilometres of paths, with routes of varying lengths. The network also includes a 400-metre Access-for-All trail and a 1-kilometre wheelchair-accessible trail. Check current trail conditions and accessibility information before your visit.

Trail lengths in County Longford also vary considerably: in Ballinamuck, the Edenmore Bog Walk is a 4.5-kilometre national loop trail. The National Famine Way, by contrast, is a signposted, 165-kilometre walking and cycling trail that passes through County Longford. It follows the last known journey on Irish soil of 1,490 people who were forced to leave Strokestown in County Roscommon in 1847; in County Longford, it follows the Royal Canal Greenway.

In Ballinamuck, County Longford, the Ballinamuck Visitor Centre offers interactive information and local guided explanations about the 1798 Battle of Ballinamuck. As visitor arrangements may change, contact the centre before your visit. The Ballinamuck Battle Trail is a signposted route through the battlefield landscape where the events took place. Check information about signage and access in advance.

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

For the main travel overview: County Longford.