James Whelan, owner of Killaloe River Cruises: What's the attraction of taking a boat trip on the Shannon:The beauty of it is that you don't have to rent a boat for a whole week if you don't want to. You can sample the Shannon on a low budget.
For example, for €35 two adults and two kids could go on a 10km tour along the river and up into Lough Derg. It also gives you an insight into the history of the area, from the lifestyle of early settlers to the introduction of the Shannon hydro scheme and the effects of the Celtic Tiger. You also get to see the fabulous houses surrounding Lough Derg and homes of local celebrities such as Brendan Grace.
Has the area always been popular for pleasure boating?Well, CIE started two passenger boats in Killaloe in the 1950s, one called the St Brendan and the other called the St Kieran. People took a full day off back then and cruises went as far as Portumna. Now many people just want to spend an afternoon or go for the one-hour tour. Killaloe has always been a hub for the Shannon, right back to the 1830s when passenger steamers for England were assembled here.
If a visitor only has an afternoon in Killaloe where do you suggest they go?Killaloe is a heritage town and one of only a few towns with that designation nationally. There are two national monuments worth visiting: Brian Boru's Fort, which has a footpath right up to it, and St Flannan's Cathedral, which is 820 years old. A new 2.5km trail in the town lets kids follow in the footsteps of Brian Boru. There are information points and images and it really brings history to life.
For older walking enthusiasts, what routes do you recommend?The Lough Derg trail starts in Limerick and ends in Dromineer. The best section is around Killaloe, particularly Tountinna, which is 1,500m above sea level.
Anything else for kids to do in the local area? Actually, a local fisherman has set up a new enterprise called Fishing for Kids. Children can fish from the riverbank with a local angler, or he can take them out on a boat in groups of 8-10. They get to catch little perch and it is a great introduction to the sport of fishing. The man running it is Noel Bugler ( fishingforkids.ie).
What about getting a bite to eat locally?Killaloe is rapidly becoming a real food lover's paradise. A lot of new businesses have opened despite the recession. I'd recommend Goosers Bar, which has a thatched roof, flagstones on the floor and a turf fire burning.
Three’s also the Wooden Spoon, run by a local girl, Laura Kilkenny. It opened about two years ago and she is getting great reviews for fresh home cooking. The local Lakeside Hotel has the Maureen O’Hara bar, as the actress used to frequent the hotel with her late husband, Captain Blair. The bar overlooks the Shannon, and you could sit there all day eating lunch and watching the boats go by.
What about entertainment locally?Where would you get a good session? Clare is a great county for traditional music. We have set dancing every Wednesday in the Anchor Inn. It starts about 8 or 9pm. You have two great pubs at the top of the town for music – Redden's Bar and Walsh's Bar. There is nothing imported in terms of the music – just good local trad, which is hard to beat.
Michelle Fallon, textile artist
When people think of the Shannon region, is it fair to say they sometimes forget to include Roscommon?I would say that, in all my years whenever I've mentioned Roscommon, half the people I say it to will have simply driven through it once on the way to wherever. I live in my grandmother's cottage in the middle of the bog and we run courses and workshops in sewing, knitting and crafts. Most visitors we get come from the city – mainly Galway and Dublin – and they like the quietness here. They like that there is not a lot of traffic. It is picturesque and remote.
What is there to do locally?Roscommon is very accessible from many other places. We've got Roscommon town itself, of course, with a cinema and bowling alley and all that, but we also have great walking routes. Worth visiting, too, is the Arigna Mining Experience Museum and that would attract a lot of people. Not far from me is Sliabh Bán, which is quite popular for walking visitors.
Every April, we have the Roscommon lamb festival. I’m pretty sure we have one of the highest numbers of sheep per acre of land in the country. The festival also highlights all we have to offer, including heritage walks around the town. Of course, Chris O’Dowd has put Boyle on the map recently with his series for Sky and he is back filming in September.
Any hidden gems in the county?I would pick out Strokestown Park House, an 18th century Palladian mansion, near where I live. The house is home to the Irish National Famine Museum, and often hosts events for the town's famous festivals such as the Strokestown International Poetry festival in May and the Féile Frank McGann traditional music festival in October. The kitchens and basement still have their original layout and there are some lovely gardens, which are great for a picnic. Guided tours of the house are also on offer.
What about a bite or a place to shop locally?Gleeson's Townhouse is the best-known place in Roscommon. It is situated in the square and they serve very good traditional food. There's a shop called Town and Country Interiors in Athleague, about 10 miles outside Roscommon on the way to Galway. It's a giftware and furniture shop set up in an old-world style and there is a lovely coffee shop beside it.
What to see and do
Glamping on the Shannon:
Since the mid-1990s, Joe and Eilish Beirne have been running Beirnes of Battlebridge, a traditional Irish pub, which has been in the Beirne family for generations. The pub is located on the banks of the Shannon near Co Leitrim, and also includes a boating marina and a caravan park adjacent to the pub. For the last three years, the couple have climbed aboard the “glamping’” (glamorous camping) bandwagon and have just taken delivery of four luxury “eco-pods”.
They say bookings are brisk from groups organising special birthdays, hen parties and families. Each pod is uniquely kitted out, and you can cast a line into the Shannon from your own private deck and cook it later on a provided barbecue.
As they say: “none of this is possible in a hotel bedroom”.
Local attractions:
Lough Key Forest Park, a local 18-hole golf-course, the Arigna Mining Experience Museum and the bustling town of Carrick-on-Shannon. Rates: €160 for a two-night stay per pod, which sleeps four.
Contact: battlebridgecaravanandcamping.ie; camp@battlebridgecaravanandcamping.ie;
tel: 071-9650824.
Social media suggestions
Here in Terryglass we have a community that is welcoming to all, have good pubs with traditional music and our annual arts festival is coming up in a couple of weeks, terryglassartsfestival.ie. We have self-catering cottages on our farm where families and couple come to relax and engage in walking, touring or just being part of local life. The local area has artisan food, access to forest parks, Lough Derg and the local community have created a wonderful village unspoilt by the excesses of the Celtic Tiger years.
– @niallheenan
For the Shannon region, I recommend golf at Dromoland Castle Hotel. It is a superb course and great green fee/steak dinner rate. The cliff walk in Kilkee, approached via Dunlicky Road, is great for panoramic views and calorie burning. High tide swimming, try Newfoundout in Kilkee and at the third Pollock hole at low tide – amazing natural amenities.
– Yvonne O’Driscoll
Roscrea: Monaincha Abbey, which is the 31st wonder of the world, is three kilometres to the east. I’d also suggest Roscrea Castle, scene of one of Ireland’s first recorded parliaments in 1213.
– George Cunningham
Roscommon, with the longest Shannon coastline, has lots to offer. Walks: Rinn Duin Castle loop, Suck Valley walk. For food along the Shannon, nice places are the Old Fort Restaurant in Shannonbridge and Keenan’s Hotel in Tarmonbarry
– Roscommon Tourism @roscommonie
Cox’s Steakhouse in Dromod in Leitrim. Also, a fabulous garden and woodland walk in Strokestown House.
– Arthur Russell
@Morgallion
Gallows Hill, Cratloe Woods, Garrykennedy Harbour, Terryglass, Quin Abbey, Ennis, Moyasta rail
@form_architect
Next weekIn the final week of our series, we will be looking at North Dublin. If you have recommendations, drop us a line. Twitter: @oconnellbrian
Email: brianoconnell@ irishtimes.com
