Shannonbridge, Co. Offaly

Shannonbridge (Irish: Rachra) is located on the River Shannon - with one part of the town in County Roscommon and the other in County Offaly - at the junction of the R444 and R357 regional roads, 7 km (5.5 miles) south of Clonmacnoise. The town has one of the oldest bridges still in use over the River Shannon, completed in 1757.

Shannonbridge was heavily fortified by the British in the Napoleonic era. Some of the fortifications, including a fort that now houses a restaurant, are still visible today on the west bank of the river.

An Electricity Supply Board peat-fired power station with a capacity of 150 megawatts is located a few kilometres downriver. The peat is supplied from the Blackwater Bog peatlands, managed by Bord na Móna. The Clonmacnoise & West Offaly narrow-gauge railway, which is principally used to transport the peat to the power station, provides passenger tours of the peatlands.

Kileens Pub situated on the main street of shannonbridge has a rich background. It featured in the 1971 film Flight of the Doves which featured such Irish entertainers as songstress Dana Rosemary Scallon and Irish comedian Niall Toibin.

Shannonbridge is situated north of Clonmacnois, where St Ciaran founded a monastery here in 548 which became the most famous of all the monastic cities of Ireland. It flourished under the patronage of many kings; the last High King, Rory O' Conor, was buried here in 1198.

Gardens

Birr Castle Demesne - Tullamore County Offaly Ireland - Garden
Birr Castle Demesne
Birr, Co. Offaly
It is possible to do a whistle stop tour of the world in this fascinating demesne surrounding majestic Birr Castle and embraced by the River Camcor. You can globe trot in minutes from Pakistan to New Zealand, and from Mexico to a glade that looks ...

Golf

Glasson Golf Hotel
Glasson Hotel & Golf Club
Glasson, Co. Westmeath
Course Type: Parkland
This Christy O'Connor Jr. designed parkland course provides an ideal place to break up a journey across Ireland with some of the most scenic parkland golf around. Glasson hotel & Golf Club is about 10km (6m) north of Athlone in Ireland's ...

Self Catering

Selfcatering
The Stone Cottage
Portumna, Co. Galway
4 * Rating by Irish Tourist Board Situated in a rural location just five miles from the bustling town of Portumna, this delightful property has been rebuilt using the original stone from an old cottage and its outbuildings. The result is a fab ...

What's On

Birr - The Full Moon Market - Co Offaly - every 3rd Sunday
The Full Moon Market - Every 3rd Sunday

The Chestnut Courtyard, Birr, Co Offaly

Tourist Attractions

Clonmacnoise - Shannonbridge County Offaly Ireland
Clonmacnoise
Shannonbridge, Co. Offaly
Clonmacnoise is an Early Christian site founded by St. Ciarán in the mid-6th century on the eastern bank of the River Shannon. The strategic location of the monastery helped it become a major centre of religion, learning, craftsmanship and ...

Wedding Venues

Wedding
The Old Fort
Shannonbridge, Co. Roscommon
In a very pleasant site right at the bridge beside the mighty River Shannon, this restaurant is in a lovingly-restored 19th century fort, and has oodles of character - the old stone walls are several feet thick in places. Churches in the locality ...
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