The Lough Derg Way

The Lough Derg Way Walking Trail stretches from Limerick City to Killaloe. This walk covers a distance of approximately 16 miles, which has been fully marked and sign posted.

Walking from the Limerick City direction, the route commences at the Limerick City Tourist Information Office and leaves the main Limerick/Dublin Road at Lock Quay, before continuing along the Limerick city canal which was the first of the old of the Shannon navigation canals. Plassey is now the site for one of Ireland's most modern universities. Over the past decade it has developed into a major Technological Park of international standing, and it is here at Plassey Bridge that the route crosses the river Shannon and continues for a stretch along the old disused Errina Canal as far as Gilloge Bridge.

After a short distance along a country road the route again joins the Shannon navigation system at the canal and continues for approximately 4.5 miles along the canal bank to O'Briens Bridge. Before coming to O'Briens Bridge you meet a small village called Clonlara with charming shops and pubs. The village boasts one of the finest stone churches in the Diocese of Killaloe. Although not on the official way, about 2 miles to the east of the village are the falls of Doonass, a district with beauty that is unsurpassed along the River Shannon.

At O'Briens Bridge, you are at a point once considered to be one of the three most important points in the country, the others being Dublin and Athlone. The bridge derives its name from a large wooden bridge built in 1506 by Torlough O'Brien, King of Thomond. To-day it is a lovely tourist town with a wide selection of accommodation, catering and activities services available to tourists.

From here, the route turns left onto the main Limerick/Killaloe road and then to the right for approximately half a mile before turning left again onto a narrow country road which overlooks the Shannon System and continues down into Killaloe.

Killaloe is the centre of a beautiful and historic district. It is perhaps best known as the home of Brian Boru, High King of Ireland 1002-1014.

Talk to one of our Vacation in Ireland Specialist about how to accommodate this short 16 mile walk into your trip .